805 Living December 2018 by 805 Living

DEC E M BE R 2018

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT

HARDWOOD FLOORING

•

TILE

•

COUNTERTOP S

31275 LA BAYA DRIVE WESTLAKE VILLAGE CA 91362

•

MOULDING

818 889 0487

•

DOORS & WINDOWS

CONEJOHARDWOODS.COM

M Y L A G O S M Y W AY

C A VIA R C OL L ECTIONS | L AGOS.COM NE I M A N M A R CUS | BL OOMINGDAL Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S | NORDSTROM

$1.2

Billion

in assets under management

Best-in-State Financial Advisor, 2018 (Seth Haye) —Forbes Magazine

Top NextGen Advisors, 2018 (Seth Haye, #11 of top 1000 in U.S.) —Forbes Magazine

FRONT, LEFT: Stephanie Hartmire: Senior Registered Associate; Barry Garapedian:

Managing Director-Wealth Management, Financial Advisor; Seth Haye: Executive Director, Financial Advisor; BACK, LEFT: Clint Spivey: Consulting Group Analyst; Vanessa Renna: Client Service Associate; Carlos Garcia: Financial Advisor; Elisa Decker: Group Director * as of August 1, 2018

Top 40 Under 40, 2018

The Oaks Group at Morgan Stanley 100 N. Westlake Blvd. #200, Westlake Village, CA 91362

(Seth Haye, #13 in U.S.) —On Wall Street

805-494-0215

Sources: Forbes.com (February 2018). Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pay a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com. Forbes Magazine (July, 2018). Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC. Data as of 3/31/18. SHOOK considered Financial Advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years relevant experience, who have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. The rating may not be representative of any one client's experience and is not indicative of the Financial Advisor's future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information see www.SHOOKresearch.com. On Wall Street's Top 40 Under 40 asks brokerage firms to nominate their top young brokers. Of those nominated, On Wall Street bases its rankings on quantitative and qualitative criteria. Financial Advisors are ranked by their annual trailing-12 month production (as of Sept 30, 2014). The rating is not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its financial advisors pay a fee to On Wall Street in exchange for the rating.

CRC# 2314759

11/18

Contents DECEMBER 2018

•

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT

Features 80

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST Produced by Frances Ryan and Carmen Juarez-Leiva

COOKIE SMARTS

Get ready for this year’s exchanges with a fresh batch of recipes and tips from a popular Santa Ynez blogger and baker.

COVER: © RUTH BLACK/STOCKSY UNITED

Recipes and photographs by Rebecca Firth

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

at the Four Seasons Biltmore

FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE BILTMORE SANTA BARBARA I 805.969.3167 I MONTECITO, CA 93108 I WWW.SILVERHORN.COM

Contents

DECEMBER 2018

•

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT

43 Departments Pulse 39 Tracking the Beat of the 805

Finds 43 Heartened by Tartan Plaid patterns put forth a festive holiday vibe. By Jennie Nunn

Insider By Heidi Dvorak

56 58 61 63 63

Local Events & Family Fun Hot Ticket Show Your Support Worth a Drive Give Back

46 Loafer Love

Faces in the Crowd 64 Abaseh Mirvali

By Amy Wicks

By Nancy Ransohoff

48 TRAVEL:

Arts & Culture 66 Moving on Up

’Tis the season for party-ready slip-ons.

Presents With Presence Instead of things, give memorable experiences for 2019.

This visionary arts leader is looking to the future.

The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks puts art where the people are.

By Erin Rottman

By Joan Tapper

Go 52 Pacific Palisades:

Upgrades 71 Winter’s Nap

More Than Bluffs Known for its famous cliffs overlooking the sea, this community is also home to noted architecture, antiquities, and alfresco dining opportunities. By Heidi Dvorak

Get cozy with soft, fuzzy, furry home decor. By Frances Ryan

Good Deeds 74 Jodi House Brain

Injury Support Center, Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation By Mark Langton Photographs by Kendall Klein, Ashly Othic, Frank Salas, Ky Schultz, and Hiro Ueno

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Taste 98 FOOD:

Wow Them With Walnuts Take a crack at these sweet and savory dishes. By Nancy Ransohoff

102 SPIRITS:

Merrymakers Toddies, nogs, and grogs— stir up the festivities with seasonal sippers. By David Gadd

104 DINING OUT:

101 North Bound A new namesake for the famous freeway ramps up

64 the options for dinner and drinks in Westlake Village. By Victoria Woodard Harvey Photographs by Gary Moss

107 Dining Guide P.S. Sketchpad 120 805 Holiday Stress Relievers

By Greg Clarke

In Every Issue

22 Editor’s Note 28 Masthead 34 Behind the Scenes

Visit Us Online! 805living.com Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest keyword: 805Living Check out the free digital version of 805 Living on our website and on issuu.com. It’s smartphone and tablet compatible. Become an 805 Living Insider! Sign up to receive “The Insider,” our free mid-month newsletter that provides additional suggestions for local events and activities, last-minute getaway ideas, and little extras—like food and wine tips—to help you get through the month. Insiders will also receive special offers, contest news, event invitations, and more. Subscribe at 805living.com.

48 TRIPLE CREEK RANCH; 39 KAIT CRUZ; 64 MARY M c CARTNEY; 66 KEVIN SLOAN

Beauty. Warmth. Comfort. (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we do best.)

I N T ERIOR D ESIG N | R EM AR KAB LE R ESO URC ES

Left to right: Kristen Love, Genaro Lagdameo, Karen Shoener, Marcella McCracken, Carla Padour

960 South Westlake Blvd., Suite #6, Westlake Village (805) 418-1890 www.InteriorDesignWestlake.com

You are going to need a valid pilot’s license. For the plane, too. The nation’s first and only standalone AMG® showroom has landed at Mercedes-Benz of Thousand Oaks. With over 3,000 square feet of iconic, modern design, the AMG Elite Performance Center is the latest manifestation of 50 years of fanatical dedication to the pinnacle of automotive performance. Come experience the soul-stirring rumble of hand-built V8 motor, or configure your dream machine in life size on a video screen that’s bigger than most garage doors. The world’s fastest family finally has its own home, and it’s right here in Thousand Oaks. Fly on in any time.

Mercedes-Benz of Thousand Oaks

3905 Auto Mall Drive Thousand Oaks, CA (805) 371-5400 www.mbzthousandoaks.com

Financial Planning & Investment Management

PalmCM.com | 805.727.2000

2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 200 Westlake Village, California 91361 Schedule Your No-Obligation Consultation With An Experienced Fiduciary Wealth Advisor.

Alano Massi, MBA, CFPÂŽ Palm Capital Management, LLC is a d/b/a of Dynamic Wealth Advisors. All investment advisory services are offered through Dynamic Wealth Advisors. The material contained in this ad is not a solicitation to purchase or sell any security or offer of investment advice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only. A copy of Dynamic Wealth Advisorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure is available upon written request and can also be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD by searching under CRD#151367.

inspire build inspire •• design •• build

Arteriors Home • Bradington Young • Global Views • John-Richard Arteriors Home •Designs Bradington Young • Global Views • John-Richard Lisa Taylor • Palecek • Rene Cazares • Worlds Away

Lisa Taylor Designs • Palecek • Rene Cazares • Worlds Away

2520 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 thesofaguy.com • 805.497.3222 2520 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

thesofaguy.com • 805.497.3222

Editor’s Note

Stories of the Season THIS IS A HOLIDAY SEASON LIKE NO OTHER. Almost all of us have lost something in the past month. When evil created a nightmare at Borderline Bar and Grill, it was unimaginable, an event like no other here that threatened to break the spirit of the community. Just as our friends and neighbors began to deal with that nightmare, the flames came. The lives lost and displaced by the Woolsey fire is another tragedy. The number of homes and properties destroyed is astoundingly high. The thousands of acres burned are so hard to envision. The air itself reminds us that we’ve been through something traumatic. And now we must be prepared for any danger that the rains might bring. Things have changed. While we remain strong as ever, in the years to come we will be facing a new normal. But for now, looking around the brutal landscape, when we do find our words we can’t believe we are saying them. We can’t believe what we’ve been through. There are so many stories from our families, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers. Each is totally unique, and yet somehow they are all alike because these stories all take place right here, at home. These stories hang in the air like smoke. Members and friends of 805 Living were impacted by both events—some more than others, but we’re all feeling pain, still. We know some of those who lost their lives. Some of our family lost property. But in addition to the sadness, there are so many stories of heroism, bravery, and generosity from first responders and the community at large. Like others, we at the magazine are doing what we can to help by posting information on the ongoing relief efforts as well as donor and volunteer initiatives on our social media channels. Please check in to learn how you can help. This holiday season, the conversations will continue, and they won’t stop for quite some time. How could they? A community is rebuilt, in part, based on the stories of those who live there, in the same way that the memories of those we have lost stay stronger when we talk about them. Maybe now is the time for listening as well as talking. We’re still grieving. We’re still trying to make sense of the senseless. But together we are comforted, we get better, and we move forward. It can be good therapy for both those who speak and those who listen. My hopes and expectations are that next year will be better for us all. From our family to yours, happy holidays, and please join us in the new year.

Lynne Andujar edit@805living.com

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

GARY MOSS

Editor in Chief & Publisher

brighten your mood

lightsculptures The functionality of lighting with the intrinsic qualities of art give your room something to say. Handmade by artist Timothy J. Ferrie.

studio address: 31200 la baya, suite 305, westlake village, ca 91362 showroom address: wtc trade mart, 2100 stemmons freeway, 10085-06, dallas, tx 75207 e-mail: tjferrie@me.com

phone: 805/276-5655

website: tjferrie.com

love what you wear 160 Promenade Way | Westlake Village CA | 805-777-7019

Whizin Market Square 28861 West Agoura Road, Agoura Hills | 818.874.9092 | aBeautifulMessHome.com

Choose the very best, to look your very best.

Botox®

Juvedérm®

Voluma

Latisse®

CoolSculpting

Out of more than 35,000 aesthetic practices across the U.S., Remedy Skin + Body – led by founder and medical director Talia Emery, M.D. – has just been named to Allergan’s prestigious list of “Top 50” practices. While you may not know Allergan by name, you certainly know their unparalleled treatments and products, including Botox, Juvedérm, Voluma, Latisse and CoolSculpting. The “Top 50” distinction is awarded to only the most experienced aesthetic providers, so you know you’re in the very best hands at Remedy.

Call us for a free consultation today at 805-497-9400 remedyskinandbody.com

Talia Emery, M.D. Medical Director

EDITOR IN CHIEF & PUBLISHER

Lynne Andujar

edit@805living.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bernard Scharf MANAGING EDITOR

Kathy Tomlinson DESIGNER

Sophie Patenaude PHOTO EDITOR

Gary Moss

photo@805living.com SENIOR EDITOR

Heidi Dvorak CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Mark Langton (Philanthropic Events), Jennie Nunn (Shopping), Erin Rottman (Travel), Frances Ryan (Interior Design) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ryan Brown, David Gadd, Victoria Woodard Harvey, Nancy Ransohoff, Joan Tapper, Amy Wicks CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

Greg Clarke RESEARCH EDITORS

Beth Bloom, Tajinder Rehal CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Gary Moss CONSULTING EDITOR

Anthony Head

home furnishings

interior design

805 Living content may not be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, without the express written permission of the publisher. 805 Living is not responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. 3Digit Media, LLC, and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, and publisher accept no responsibility for errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. 3Digit Media’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. 3Digit Media does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by the advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to 805 Living, please visit 805living.com.

online w w w.c a b a n a h o m e .c o m

i n - s t o re santa barbara

Your domestic subscription includes 10 issues of 805 Living for $25.95. If you have a question about your subscription write to Circulation Department, 805 Living , 3717 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91362; or reach us via email at circulation@805living.com.

Please recycle this magazine when you are finished.

805 LIVING, DECEMBER 2018

Buyer and Seller of large Diamonds

An exquisite 20.13 carat Emerald Cut Diamond Ring J, VS1, GIA Certified

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jennifer S. Vogelbach

Home furnishings and design, fine jewelry, fashion jennifer@805living.com 818-427-3496 ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Dave Bottom

San Luis Obispo County dandkbott@aol.com 619-994-3344

Ingrid C’deBaca

Real estate, home builders, architects, landscape, attorneys, senior living, Ojai businesses ingrid@805living.com 818-597-9220

Diane Dreyer

Santa Barbara County Real estate, home builders, architects, wineries diane@805living.com 818-879-3951

Amra Neal

Travel, entertainment, dining, food and beverage, education, health, fitness, beauty amra@805living.com 310-924-2631

Lisa Kitchin

Automotive, financial/banking, mortgage, nonprofit organizations lisa@805living.com 818-268-8001 ADVERTISING DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Sophie Patenaude sophie@805living.com OPERATIONS MANAGER

Carmen Juarez-Leiva ACCOUNTING

Lori Kantor lori@805living.com DISTRIBUTION

David Savage

ADVERTISING QUERIES

805-444-1228, 805-830-1655 fax

805 Living is published 10 times a year and is a property of 3Digit Media, LLC. 3717 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91362 CEO

805 LIVING, DECEMBER 2018

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

As we start the new year we would like to count all of our blessings and reﬂect upon this last year. Our gratitude overﬂows from the continued support of our existing relationships and the chance to create new ones. We would also like to express a heartfelt thank you to our extended family of employees whose hard work, dedication, and passion make Ramsey Asphalt what it is today.

www.RamseyAsphalt.com

Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32

Behind the Scenes What could be more memorable than presents that hold special meaning? Our featured contributors tell us about the most creative, personal, expressive, or significant gifts they’ve ever given or received. Erin Rottman “For my parents’ 40th anniversary, my husband, two children, and I made a book called 40 Reasons Why We Love You,” says travel editor Erin Rottman (Finds/Travel, page 48). “Each of the 40 handmade pages had one reason, which was sentimental, surprising, or silly. My parents cherish it because each of us contributed.”

Jennie Nunn Contributing editor Jennie Nunn (Finds, page 43) says, “One of the most significant experiences I’ve had is helping donate and distribute gifts and food during the holidays to underprivileged individuals and families.” Nunn’s work appears in Angeleno, Luxe Interiors+Design, DuJour, and The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Back in the day, I was young and probably couldn’t afford them, but I gave Mom small diamond earrings,” says operations manager Carmen Juarez-Leiva (“The Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your List,” page 80). “Gratification came just two months ago: We’re out to dinner and she said, ‘Look, these are the earrings you gave me years ago.’ It felt better now, than when I originally gifted them.”

NUNN: JEN SISKA

Carmen Juarez-Leiva

Behind the Scenes Our featured experts share their memories of the most creative, personal, expressive, or significant gifts they’ve ever given or received. “I created a puzzle out of wood and painted it for my dad.” —Rebecca Firth

(“Cookie Smarts,” page 90) author of The Cookie Book and creator of DisplacedHousewife Santa Ynez Valley displacedhousewife.com

“My father’s willingness to help me build my first potter’s wheel as a teenager.” —Kenny Standhardt

(Pulse, page 39) owner Standhardt Studio San Luis Obispo

“Rhinestone tiaras for my girlfriends—a surprisingly useful and appropriate gift for phenomenal women.” —Tish Greenwood

“My father was a victim in the 9/11 tragedy, eventually suffering from a terminal illness. He always had an insatiable craving for New York deli cuisine, so when he and my mother relocated to Las Vegas, weeks before his death, I sent him a deli brunch from Katz’s Delicatessen in NYC.” —Anthony Alaimo

(Dining Out, page 104) chef and owner

FIRTH: CHRISTINE CARLSON

(Arts & Culture, page 66) executive director California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks cmato.org

WHERE

E VERY

HOUR

IS A

HAPPY

HOUR

Try over 25 eateries at The Collection and The Annex. Visit thecollectionrp.com for menus and details. 805-988-7527 Located off HWY 101 at Oxnard BLVD.

Pulse

T R AC K I N G T H E B E AT O F T H E 8 0 5

KENNY STANDHARDT

RISING STARS

To commemorate the season, ceramic artist Kenny Standhardt of Standhardt Studio (standhardtstudio.com) hand-makes festive stoneware star ornaments. Formerly based in Oregon, Standhardt recently brought his nearly 30 years of professional craftsmanship experience to the San Luis Obispo art scene, where his pre-Columbian-inspired pottery captivates clients with

patterns of geometric indentations. His signature motifs also appear on his star ornaments, which he creates individually in a variety of shapes and dazzling colors. Like some of their celestial counterparts, Standhardtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stars appear only at this special time of year. For $35 plus shipping, each star comes boxed, ready to shine as a holiday gift. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Ryan Brown DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Pulse

RAISING SPIRITS

When distiller and former bartender Kurt Charron found himself continually going back to aloe vera, cucumber, mint, and melon to make cocktails, he realized that nobody had yet put those flavors together in a liqueur. After some experimentation in his Los Feliz kitchen and six months of instruction at a distillery school in Montreal, Charron created the not-toosweet Chareau Aloe Liqueur (chareau. us). Now produced at a Camarillo distillery and available at Vintage Grocers in Westlake Village, the award-winning liqueur is made with organic ingredients sourced from the Central Coast. “I kind of just wanted to put California in a bottle,” says Charron. —Erin Rottman

For an elegant holiday centerpiece of edible tiers, instead of a typical sweet cake, consider a cheese-wheel cake from San Luis Obispo’s Fromagerie Sophie (fromageriesophie.com). The stacked rounds of creamy blue, gouda, goat, or any of 70 varieties of cheese can be topped with olive branches and figs for a rustic look, fresh flowers and berries for a pop of color, or holly berry leaves for a nod to tradition. Owner Sophie Boban-Doering says she uses Langres soft cow’s milk cheese from France because it has an appealing light tangerine-colored rind and pairs well with champagne. But don’t expect next-day leftovers. “Every time we do a cake,” Boban-Doering says, “there’s never anything left.” —E.R.

DIY DECOR

WINTER GARDEN Recipe by Kurt Charron Add Chareau and sparkling water to a glass with ice. Squeeze in juice of 1 lemon or lime wedge and stir. Garnish with remaining wedge and sprigs of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme. Distiller Kurt Charron (left), shares the recipe for his Winter Garden cocktail (below), which showcases his Chareau liqueur, a mingling of the flavors of aloe vera, cucumber, mint, and melon.

In need of seasonal stress-reduction? Grab a stool at The Pallet (thepalletwlv.com) in Westlake Village, pick some

moss and succulents, and start making a work of art that will not only grace your home for the holidays but also be a lasting reminder of what happens when you “put down your cell phone and get your hands dirty,” says craft workshop owner and instructor Kim Cruz. Most of Cruz’s classes are succulent themed, and the finished products are suitable for gift giving, even those created by beginners. Workshops take place throughout the year, but December’s offerings, such as Succulent Tree Box, Family Holiday Sleigh, and Winter Wreath come with a good dose of holiday cheer.  —Heidi Dvorak

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

CHEESE-WHEEL CAKE: FROMAGERIE SOPHIE; WREATH: KAIT CRUZ; CHARRON: MARISSA ALVES; COCKTAIL: PUBLIC 311

1 part Chareau 2 parts sparkling mineral water 2 fresh lemon or lime wedges 1 sprig rosemary 1 sprig sage 1 sprig thyme

CHEESE IS THE NEW CAKE

Opening this Winter...

With the same caring faces...

A New Community Memorial Hospital VENTURA • CALIFORNIA

The latest technology...

• A six-story 355,000 square foot state-of-the-art center dedicated to healing and comfort • Private rooms for all patients, accommodations for families, and healing outdoor gardens • An Emergency Department with significantly increased capacity • Ten new surgical suites featuring leading-edge medical technology, advanced diagnostic and imaging capacities, and integrated IT systems • Expanded critical care capabilities with increased heart catheterization labs and ICU beds • A dedicated maternal child health floor with a larger Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and an eight-bed pediatric wing

OurNewCMH.org

A not-for-profit organization.

And the physicians you know and trust...

The future of healthcare in Ventura County is here.

Holiday Gift Guide GIFT PACKS

WINE CLUB

DISTILLERY

SHIP OR PICK UP

MEMBERSHIP

SPIRIT GIFT PACKS

Select a beautifully packaged gift box to be shipped or choose from a decorated basket to be hand delivered.

Give the gift that keeps on giving, an Opolo Wine Club Membership. Quarterly wine shipments and events.

Sets include our current brandies and liqueurs offerings from The Distillery along with etched tasting glasses.

THE INN AT OPOLO

FROM THE VINEYARD

ROMANTIC GET AWAY

VISIT PASO ROBLES

Luxurious, spacious rooms and all of the sensory pleasures of Paso Robles in one destination. Give the gift of a romantic getaway.

Vineyard adventures include Wine & Cheese Pairings, Estate Tour & Tastings and our Pairings on the Patio offered daily from 11am - 4pm.

7110 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446 | 805.238.9593 opolo.com

Finds S H O P P I N G / S T Y L E / T R AV EL

Heartened by Tartan PLAID PATTERNS PUT FORTH A FESTIVE HOLIDAY VIBE. By Jennie Nunn

“Porter” dog coat ($64); Anthropologie at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; anthropologie.com. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Finds 2 1

4 3

1. “Cameron Street” rustic plaid small abalene ($78); Kate Spade at The Commons at Calabasas, katespade.com. 2. Holiday runner ($25); Sur La Table at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, Santa Barbara, and The Village, Woodland Hills; surlatable.com.

6 7

3. Christmas mug ($10); Sur La Table at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, Santa Barbara, and The Village, Woodland Hills; surlatable.com. 4. Insulated beverage container ($30); Williams-Sonoma at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, La Cumbre Plaza, Santa Barbara, The San Luis Obispo Collection, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; williams-sonoma.com. 5. Denver plaid cheese knives ($30 for a set of three); Pottery Barn at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, La Cumbre Plaza, Santa Barbara, and The San Luis Obispo Collection; potterybarn.com.

8 9

6. Stuffed-bone pet toys ($12 for a set of two); Cost Plus World Market at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo; worldmarket.com. 7. “Stewart” oval ottoman ($300); worldmarket.com. 8. Leather books bound in plaid fabric ($151 for a set of five); Bed Bath & Beyond, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Goleta, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles; bedbathandbeyond.com. 9. Classic tartan apron ($40); Williams-Sonoma at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, La Cumbre Plaza, Santa Barbara, The San Luis Obispo Collection, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; williams-sonoma.com. 

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

More Than A Market.

Thankful

FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

VintageGrocers.com

MALIBU | WESTLAKE VILLAGE | PALISADES

Finds Style By Amy Wicks

“Jillene” embroidered velvet ($995); Ralph Lauren, Beverly Hills, ralphlauren.com.

Loafer Love

“Gala” gunmetal-glitter fabric pointy-toe with bow ($595); Jimmy Choo at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, jimmychoo.com.

’TIS THE SEASON FOR PARTY-READY SLIP-ONS. “Mister” leather with crystal block heel ($1,150); Gucci at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, gucci.com.

Sole Society “Edie” velvet pointy-toe in cloud blue ($90); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; nordstrom.com.

“Jaida” black Lurex square-toe with crystal firework embellishment ($875); Jimmy Choo at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, jimmychoo.com.

Sarto by Franco Sarto “Topaz Flat” in pewter leather ($130); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; nordstrom.com. “Jordy” in dark-green velvet ($130); Sam Edelman, Beverly Hills, samedelman.com.

Roger Vivier “Monk Strass” with velvet buckle ($1,250); Neiman Marcus at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, neimanmarcus.com. “Irises” textured leather with cascading crystal fringe ($498); Stuart Weitzman at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, stuartweitzman.com. 

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Finds Travel By Erin Rottman

Presents With Presence INSTEAD OF THINGS, GIVE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR 2019.

Snowy horseback rides and cozy lodging in cabins like the Chipmunk Cottage set the scene for a winter weekend of tasting and learning about wines from the Napa Valley and the Pacific Northwest at Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana.

participants about the soils, individual grape varieties, and history of the vineyards, “became this very relaxed intimate opportunity for people to get together,” says Jennifer O’Donohue, director of sales and marketing at the independently owned ranch. Staffers ask guests about their preferences in advance and customize activities like cooking classes and photo scavenger hunts. At the end of the day, guests return to luxurious cabins with wood-burning fireplaces, log-post beds, area rugs, and leather club chairs. Be sure to reserve one with a private outdoor hot tub.

RIDE,WINE, AND DINE

For his wife’s 30th birthday last year, John Grossman, avid cyclist and owner of La Playa Carmel (laplayahotel.com), got a dozen friends together and led a bike ride from the hotel to nearby Galante Vineyards, where a harvest lunch and wine tasting awaited the riders. “We all had so much fun that we thought it’d be ridiculous to keep it from other people,” says Grossman, who insists that walking is too slow and driving is too fast, but cycling is the perfect speed for traveling. Grossman is inviting the public to get in on the fun with La Playa Carmel’s fournight Ride, Wine, and Dine experience ($4,500 per person). Designed for eight to 12 people, the package includes three days of riding with pre-ride service and safety checks, en-route rest stops with snacks, mechanical and van support, and a gift certificate to Carmel’s Refuge indoor-outdoor spa. A winemaker’s dinner and all other meals are included. “If you ride your bike all day, you can feel very happy about imbibing as much as you want,” Grossman says, “and it tastes all the better.” La Playa Carmel’s Ride, Wine, and Dine package combines a four-night stay with three days of bicycle tours in and around Carmel, each of which concludes with a culinary experience featuring wines from nearby Galante Vineyards.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

TOP, LEFT AND RIGHT: TRIPLE CREEK RANCH; BOTTOM, LEFT: LA PLAYA CARMEL; BOTTOM, RIGHT: CLIMATE RIDE

A WHITE WINE TASTING

vintner weekend in western Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains may be the ideal gift for the wine-enthusiast who also likes snow and wood-burning fireplaces. The adults-only, all-inclusive Triple Creek Ranch (triplecreekranch.com; from $1,050 a night) offers year-round packages, but during the weekends of January 18, February 14, and March 14, the crowds subside. Winemakers from Napa Valley, eastern Washington, and beyond present their vintages and go horseback riding and snowshoeing with guests. The winter vintner weekends, which teach

this is my PISMO BEACH Surfing at the Beach Wine Tasting

Dining with Friends

Horseback Riding

Walking on the Sand Kayaking

come find yours There’s miles of sandy beaches, surﬁng, shopping, dining, whale watching & many wonderful places to stay from oceanfront hotels overlooking the beautiful cliffs, affordable hotels for the quick getaway, family friendly vacation rentals big enough to bring everyone as well as classic style camping to luxury RV resorts. Whatever your favorite things are you can ﬁnd them here in Pismo Beach Classic California. #MYPISMOBEACH

Finds Travel

HOT TIP

PRIZED SECRETS AT SNOWMASS

Warm up with hot chocolate and holiday sing-alongs on the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Train (winetrain.com/events/santa-train; from $39) through December 28. It’s a 75-minute roundtrip ride to Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. “It’s really important to have kids have a special time at Christmas,” says Scott Goldie, co-CEO of the Napa Valley Wine Train, which is partnering with the Ticket to Dream Foundation to bring Northern California foster children aboard for free.

VIP STATUS AT THE U.S. OPEN

For golf devotees, The Championship Experience at Pebble Beach Resorts (pebblebeach.com/2019usopen;

Hotel Snowmass

(limelighthotels.com/ snowmass; from $325), which is scheduled to open this month as part of Colorado’s new Snowmass base village.

Complimentary for hotel guests, Inside Tracks taps longtime locals to serve as guides.

“Where’s the powder five days after the storm? Where’s the sun at 3 p.m.?” asks Limelight Hotel Snowmass general manager Lindsay Cagley. “It’s all about the inside track, finding the best stuff.” The newest addition to the Limelight properties in Aspen, Colorado, and Ketchum, Idaho, the ski-in, ski-out Snowmass property features a five-story climbing wall with routes that mimic natural ones in the surrounding mountains, the Limelight Lounge restaurant with live music five nights a week and an adjacent game room, and shuttles to Aspen and the surrounding ski mountains. Guest rooms include banquette seating areas, kitchenettes, and connecting doors between rooms for families. Book a grand deluxe room on the lower village level and walk right out to the chairlifts.

When not taking advantage of insider info on the slopes outdoors (top), recipients of the Inside Tracks experience at Limelight Hotel Snowmass can come inside to scale the hotel’s five-story climbing wall (above).

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

The Championship Experience at Pebble Beach Resorts includes access to an exclusive view of the 18th hole during the U.S. Open.

the Lodge at Pebble Beach (which will be closed to the general public during the competition to serve as the clubhouse for players and officials) and the hospitality suite on the 18th hole, a prime viewing spot from which to watch the competition and have breakfast or afternoon hors d’oeuvres. Also included is lodging at The Inn at Spanish Bay, round-trip transportation from local airports, daily golf for two on any of three courses, access to a resort shuttle, and a $500 U.S. Open merchandise gift card. “I call myself a calendar clearer,” says Tim Ryan, a member of the resorts’ executive planning committee for the 2019 U.S. Open. “If I invite you to Pebble Beach, you’re going to clear your calendar and find a way to get it done.” 

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN; ASPEN SKIING COMPANY; PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY; LIMELIGHT HOTELS

ive the gift of priceless secrets to a sweetheart skier or snowboarder with the Inside Tracks experience at Limelight

$40,000 per couple) is the ultimate gift. The seven-night package puts guests in the heart of the 2019 U.S. Open from June 10 to June 17 with two premier tickets granting access each day to

Come Forth & Multiply n n

Minimum $100,000 Federally insured up to $250,000

Open Your High Rate Money Market Account Today! THERE’S A LOGIX BRANCH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Newbury Park

1005 Broadbeck Dr. (Across from Starbucks)

(877) 944.5328

Thousand Oaks

2060 Avenida De Los Arboles, Suite B (In the Vons Shopping Center)

(877) 964.5328

Westlake Village

2820 Townsgate Rd, Suite 120 (In the Gelson’s Shopping Center)

(866) 400.5328

Money Market Account - Minimum opening deposit is $2,500.00. Minimum balance required to earn 1.85% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is $100,000.00. The Logix Money Market Account is a tier-rate account and the APY for each balance tier is: 1.85% APY on $100,000.00 and Over; 0.90% APY on $50,000.00 - $99,999.99; 0.80% APY on $25,000.00 - $49,999.99; 0.70% on $10,000.00 - $24,999.99; 0.60% APY on $7,500.00 - $9,999.99; 0.50% APY on $2,500.00 Federally - $7,499.99; and 0.50% APY on $.01 - $2,499.99. The APY for each balance tier is variable and is subject to change after the account is Insured opened. Fees may reduce earnings. APYs are accurate as of 10/26/18 and are subject to change. Logix membership required. by NCUA

Go Pacific Palisades By Heidi Dvorak

More Than Bluffs

KNOWN FOR ITS FAMOUS CLIFFS OVERLOOKING THE SEA, THIS COMMUNITY IS ALSO HOME TO NOTED ARCHITECTURE, ANTIQUITIES, AND ALFRESCO DINING OPPORTUNITIES.

Reinvent your space with fresh ideas from Serena & Lily’s home design shop (below and left).

A gas fireplace is a comforting cornerstone in a bright, spacious guest room at the beach-close Channel Road Inn bed and breakfast (left). A reproduction of a bronze likeness of Hermes (right) contemplates the gardens at The Getty Villa.

alk to any Pacific Palisades resident and they’ll set you straight on one thing: Pacific Palisades is not a city, it’s a village. And by the looks of the locals as they greet one another at the brand-new Palisades Village shopping center, it’s a close-knit community. That neighborhood-friendly ambience, along with worldclass art and design venues, a slew of new stores and restaurants, an enviable

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

location between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains, and sunny skies make this city, uh, village, the perfect place for a winter getaway.

Stay

There’s only one place to stay in the Palisades and lucky for visitors, it’s a gem: The Channel Road Inn (channelroadinn. com), once a Colonial Revival home built in 1910, has been a highly regarded bed and breakfast for almost 30 years. Steps from the

beach, the charming inn has original Craftsman accents, in-room fireplaces, spa tubs, and a massage room, and guest perks include the use of beach cruisers, a housemade breakfast buffet, and afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres.

See

Do like the Romans do when you’re transported as far back as 3,000 B.C. to experience the ancient art of Rome, Greece, and Etruria (now Tuscany, FYI) at The Getty Villa >

Pick up fixings for a Pacific Palisades–style picnic at Vintage Grocers.

Go Pacific Palisades Shops feature handcrafted home decor that makes a difference, like Moroccan glassware (right) at The Little Market nonprofit store and textile-based wall art (below, right) at St. Frank design boutique (below, left).

(getty.edu). J. Paul Getty’s vision is the sole replication of a first-century Roman country home in the United States, yet it’s nothing short of palatial. Stroll the manicured gardens and tour the museum, which houses 44,000 antiquities. The exhibit Underworld: Imagining the Afterlife runs through March 18. Fast-forward in time to The Eames House (eamesfoundation.org), the midcentury-modern home of noted architects and designers Charles and Ray Eames. The interior tour is a tad pricey at $275, but it gets you up close to those infamous molded plywood chairs. The exterior tour, at $10, allows for some inside views.

Shop

At The Draycott (above) get Cali takes on traditional across-the-pond classics, like Moules Frites brightened up with watermelon radish (right).

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Flower-filled pathways lead to a curated collection of boutique retailers at Palisades Village. All are service-oriented and several aim to fulfill higher purposes. Noteworthy are The Little Market (thelittlemarket. com), a nonprofit boutique founded by Lauren Conrad and Hanna Skvarla offering fairtrade home goods created by crafters from marginalized communities worldwide as well as St. Frank (stfrank.com), which showcases bohemianstyle decor handcrafted by artisans from low- and middle-income countries. Decidedly beachy is the

village outpost of Serena & Lily (serenaandlily.com), a

design shop where patrons can sidle up to the Design Bar to play with oodles of fabric, wallpaper, and finish samples.

Eat

Palisades Village has got dining down right: All the formal eateries offer alfresco options. The Draycott (thedraycott.com) serves up European-inspired dishes with So Cal flair, such as English Pea Dip, Chicken Paillard, Moules Frites, and Fish & Chips. Named for the late father of the village’s realestate developer Rick Caruso, Hank’s (blueribbonrestaurants. com) offers hefty burgers and iconic Mort’s Deli dishes in a pub-like atmosphere. For the ultimate in outdoor dining, order a customizable picnic basket at Vintage Grocers (vintagegrocers.com). Award-winning culinary director Rémi Lauvand is at the helm, so expect to choose from locally sourced gourmet items. Then head for Will Rogers State Historic Park

(parks.ca.gov/willrogers) to enjoy your goodies amid woodsy views, followed by hiking, horseback riding, or a tour of the late-cowboy’s estate. Or take a coastal cruise on the 22-mile bike path lining Will Rogers State Beach, find the perfect spot to spread a blanket, gaze at the Pacific, and say, “Ah.” 

Built in 1949, The Eames House is the namesake of its famous husband-and-wife designers, who made it their home.

Take a seat in the pub-like Hank’s (left) for a Double Diamond Cheeseburger (above).

VISIT TASTE RELAX Jerry Lohr helped pioneer Paso Robles Wine Country. For 25 years, our J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center has been an iconic, “must stop” for visitors. Warm hospitality. Fun, never stuffy wine education. And, of course, awardwinning vintages – many, like our Gesture Rhône-style releases available only here, “at the source.” Stop by and see why J. Lohr is Paso Robles. TASTING DAILY 10AM - 5PM

6169 AIRPORT ROAD (Off Hwy 46 East)

PASO ROBLES, CA 805.239.8900 | JLOHR.COM

Insider EVENTS IN & AROUND THE 805 By Heidi Dvorak

Through December 30 TATTOOED AND TENACIOUS: INKED WOMEN IN CALIFORNIA’S HISTORY

Channel Islands Maritime Museum, Oxnard. Women have been getting tattoos long before the current trend. Learn how and why through photographs, personal histories, and artifacts; cimmvc.org. Through April 21 POMPEII

12/20

Here’s an Idea: Between now and February 28 the PISMO BEACH MONARCH BUTTERFLY GROVE is usually ablaze with the spectacular sight of thousands of monarch butterflies hanging in clusters on the eucalyptus and pine trees just south of the North Beach Campground. But these winged beauties travel sans calendars, so the expected dates of their appearance and departure aren’t a sure thing. Check the website for updates; monarchbutterfly.org.

Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley. The Roman city destroyed by a volcano erupting from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. once flourished as a major city. Witness a 4-D CGI recreation of the destruction and view more than 150 2,000-yearold artifacts on loan from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples; reaganlibrary.com.

December 2, 15, 23, 29 DOWNTOWN VENTURA TASTING TOUR Downtown Ventura. Experts dish about the local food scene on a walking and tasting tour of the city. It’s a chance to meet proprietors, chefs, and food artisans as well as learn about local history; venturafoodtours.com. December 18 LeANN RIMES: YOU AND ME AND CHRISTMAS Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. Cozy on up to the joyful song stylings of this twotime Grammy Award winner in a holiday concert featuring her hits and seasonal classics. Also performing is singer (and former pro baseball player) Barry Zito; pacslo.org.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

December 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE POPS The Granada, Santa Barbara. Take part in a long-held tradition when the Santa Barbara Symphony performs a rousing concert of classic and pop tunes. The performance ends well before midnight, so there’s plenty of time for more partying; granadasb.org.

Family Fun December 1, 8, 15, 22

December 8

December 15

VIP JULEFEST CANDLELIGHT TOUR

SANTA PADDLE

MERRY MERRY MALIBU

Ventura Harbor Village. St. Nick takes to the water on a stand-up paddleboard for a smooth one-hour paddle from the bay to Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center and back. Anyone with a water vehicle (rentals are nearby) can join him on the trip. Holiday attire is encouraged; venturaharborvillage.com.

Malibu Lumber Yard, Malibu Country Mart, and Malibu Village. Celebrate the resilience of locals as three shopping centers and the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu come together to help others. Drop off clothing at collection boxes and shop at select stores that are donating a percentage of sales to those in need. The kids can enjoy ornament making, cookie decorating, and watching snowfall at sunset; malibulumberyard.com.

Solvang Park. Bundle up for a behind-the-scenes walking and caroling tour of a Danish village. Costumed guides narrate this interactive experience, which concludes with hot cocoa, cookies, and a private reception with Santa Claus; solvangusa.com. December 7–15

December 20 BRIAN WILSON PRESENTS THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM LIVE! Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Beach Boy Al Jardine and band guitarist-vocalist Blondie Chaplin join the “Good Vibrations” composer for an evening of memorable music making. The program includes The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album performed in its entirety as well as cuts from Wilson’s solo album What I Really Want for Christmas; civicartsplaza.com.

CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS

December 8, 15

Clark Center for the Performing Arts, Arroyo Grande. Oy. It’s another Christmas holiday for 10-year-old Shirley Abramowitz, a Jewish girl who’s cast as Jesus in the school’s Christmas pageant. Pulitzer Prize–winner Donald Margulies’ play is intended to touch those of all faiths; clarkcenter.org.

PORTAL TO THE PLANET: MARINE DEBRIS INVESTIGATIONS

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. Help boost kids’ environmental awareness by taking them to an educational and fun exhibit with interactive activities that demonstrate how marine debris entanglement and oil spills affect animals; sbnature.org.

December 16 ELVIS BLUE CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. It’ll be a blue, blue Christmas without the dulcet tones of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, so opt for the next best thing: Nab a seat to hear impersonator Raymond Michael singing Presley’s hits and holiday favorites; simi-arts.org. >

BOTTOM: ISTOCK.COM/JHVEPHOTO

Brian Wilson

A lot can happen in one night.

A G G IO E E S ILV LO R I L

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

the

9 8 R E B M E C DE org

P IS OBIS U L N A S OPERA g n i r u t fea

ORCHE GRAND

STRA

OBISP S I U L N

. o l s c a p . w w w

RMI O F R E P

TER N E C S ART

sponsored by

B E L M O N D E L E N C A N T O , S A N TA B A R B A R A

A HAVEN OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN SANTA BARBARA

Insider

Hot Ticket

Book your seats now for these hot upcoming events. DECEMBER Through December 18 Climb aboard the Lady Washington to see how a traditionally rigged sailing vessel operates in the TALL SHIPS exhibit. This 1989 recreation of the original ship that sailed during the Revolutionary War is a full-scale replica. Public tours take place during the week and adventure sails depart on Saturdays and Sundays; North T Pier, Morro Bay, morrobay.org. Through December 23 All aboard the NORTH POLE EXPRESS for a train ride to pick up Santa at the North Pole. On the way, there’s storytelling, caroling, cookies, and chocolate milk. Santa gets onboard for the return trip back to Santa’s Village for more fun; Fillmore & Western Railway Co., fwry.com. Through December 23 Join Wendy, John, and Michael Darling as they take an unforgettable trip to Neverland with that impish, magical character created by Sir J.M. Barrie in PETER PAN. All the great classic songs like “I Won’t Grow Up,” “Tender Shepherd,” and “I Gotta Crow” are in this new production, as well the swashbuckling adventure, heartwarming moments, and high-flying stunts; Marian Theatre, Santa Maria, pcpa.org. Through January 2 Before GPS, travelers depended on paper maps to get around. Lay eyes on some antique versions in THE KINGDOM

The Spa at Belmond El Encanto is the most idyllic day spa offering an array of treatments featuring local ingredients that relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Local residents enjoy a special 20% off select spa treatments and salon services every Monday through Thursday. Gift cards are also a perfect idea for the holiday season, so that your loved one may choose their own relaxation like our Signature Scrub body treatment which boosts your mood and elevates your senses with our signature scent incorporating citrus, basil, and mint essential oils infused with Himalayan salt, blended exclusively by local Santa Barbara purveyor, SALT. To book your next appointment, please call 805 770 3545.

OF CALIFORNIA: MAPPING THE PACIFIC COAST IN THE AGE OF EXPLORATION. The original maps

on exhibit represent early attempts to explore and chart the Pacific coast. Featured are rare maps and books from the Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla, the Santa Bárbara Mission ArchiveLibrary, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s rare book collection; Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, sbnature.org. Through January 6 As dusk descends, HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY illuminates the grounds with LEDs, lasers, 3-D projections, and animated displays that embrace the seasonal spirit, along with live musical entertainment and interactive photo opportunities; Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, reaganfoundation.org. Through January 6 Brrrrr. Temps in the 805 may not be the chilliest, but the works in LET IT SNOW! PAINTINGS OF WINTER give off that ol’ winter-wonderland feel. Each canvas expresses a different motif depicting snowfall by artists such as Maurice de Vlaminck, Grandma Moses, Childe Hassam, George Bellows, Henri Le Sidaner, Marsden Hartley, and Maurice Utrillo; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, sbma.net.

Through January 6 Twenty-five individually decorated trees are on exhibit, each defining a particular time in American history from 1770 to the present in AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS. The dramatic display traces the evolution of America as each tree embodies historic or culturally symbolic events from each decade through the use of lights, ornaments, and decorations, such as newspaper headlines, the Declaration of Independence, an 8-track tape, a Wright brothers model plane, the first telephone, a shark depicting the movie Jaws, a Cabbage Patch Kids doll, Beanie Babies, a Rubik’s Cube, and a personal computer. Also on view is a collection of handcrafted menorahs that were given to President Reagan while in office; Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, reaganfoundation.org.

Coming Soon to Ventura!

Through January 10 Pertinent of late, PYROMETRIC: EARTH AND ASH IN THE ANTHROPOCENE is a look at how art expresses the human response to nature. The idea for the exhibit—which represents destructive and transformative aspects of fire through ceramics—emanated from an evacuation of the Cal State University Channel Islands campus in 2013, due to the Springs fire. On view are ceramic cones fired in a controlled burn area after being placed by Ventura County firefighters, as well as creations made from native seeds, pine cones, and fire retardant. Featured artists Amiko Matsuo and Brad Monsma teach at Hancock College in Santa Maria and at Cal State University Channel Islands, respectively; Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, callutheran.edu. Through March Elegant design and handcrafting are the hallmarks of the French builders of cars such as Bugatti, Citroën, De Villars, Vanvooren, and others. In L’ÉPOQUE DES CARROSSIERS: THE

GASTROPUB Westlake Village

•

Santa Barbara

ART AND TIMES OF THE FRENCH COACHBUILDERS

Concours-winning vehicles are on view including the famed 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic; Mullin Automotive Museum, Oxnard, mullinautomotivemuseum.com. December 9 Ever set foot in one of those homes that screams “Happy holidays”? Stringing the house with tons of tinsel, pine cones, and candy canes might suit some, but to see the work of design-savvy elves, check out HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS, a tour of four tastefully decorated residences. Afterward, stop in the Red Barn Holiday Boutique to ogle and purchase a wide variety of decorations, as well as homemade goodies and refreshments. There’s a nearby brunch, too. Proceeds benefit Meadowlark Service League to support 30 Ventura County nonprofits; Camarillo locations, meadowlarkserviceleague.org. December 9 It’s a BIG BAND CHRISTMAS when 17 instruments of Roger Lloyd Wood’s Big Band play in an afternoon concert featuring popular songs and sounds from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s as well as classic Christmas songs. Special guests the Satin Dollz deliver tight vocal harmonies in a tribute to the Andrews Sisters; Clark Center for the Performing Arts, Arroyo Grande, clarkcenter.org. >

30 Craft Beers On Tap!

Signature Burgers & Sandwiches Artisan Flatbread Pizzas Chef-Crafted Gourmet Salads 15 Savory Appetizers Hand-Crafted Cocktails Multiple HDTV's Locally owned and operated, Finney's is open for lunch and dinner with Monday-Friday Happy Hour specials.

982 S Westlake Blvd #2, Westlake Village • 805.230.9950 35 State Street, Santa Barbara • 805.845.3100 www.FinneysCrafthouse.com

Insider December 14–15 Seaside carnival rides, games, treats, children’s activities, and decorations make for boatloads of fun at the VENTURA HARBOR HOLIDAY PARADE OF LIGHTS & FIREWORKS. This year’s theme for the boat parade is Rocking on the Dock Side of the Moon, (a nautical play on words from Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side of the Moon), so expect some far-out ’70s-themed ornamentation; venturaharbor.com.

NOW OPEN •We Deliver •Compounding •Pet Prescriptions •Immunizations •Fine Gifts•

December 15 Costumed docents lead the procession of LAS POSADAS through the grounds of a Spanish mission, singing tunes in Spanish and English. The tradition dates back to more than 400 years in Mexico and reenacts the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem; La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc, lapurisimamission.org. December 15–16 Bring a winter coat, because there’s snowfall during the Pacific Festival Ballet presentation of THE NUTCRACKER. The resident dance company is joined by New York City Ballet guest artists Tiler Peck and Gonzalo Garcia and the Kalinin Russian Dance Troupe; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, pacfestballet.org. December 15–16 With elaborate costumes and sets, the State Street Ballet and Gustafson Dance students perform THE NUTCRACKER. Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s timeless score; The Granada, Santa Barbara, granadasb.org. December 21–23 Whether his one-liners are delivered in English or Spanish, everyone gets the jokes when PAUL RODRIGUEZ is onstage. The Mexico-born comedian and actor was raised in East Los Angeles and has starred in more than 45 television shows and films; Levity Live, Oxnard, oxnard.levitylive.com.

2 9 00 Townsga te Rd # 105, We s t lake Vi l l a g e , C A 91 3 61 805. 3 71 .4 000

WWW.BUR T S R X.COM

Our other locations: 2333 Borchard Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320 430 Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

December 27–30 Still relevant, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I may be set in 1860s Bangkok, but it tells the enduring story about a stubborn man in power who is reluctantly, but ultimately, swayed by an intelligent woman. The American Theatre Guild/Broadway in Thousand Oaks production features the original score, with songs such as “Getting to Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” and “Something Wonderful”; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, americantheaterguild.org. December 31 Dance until it’s next year at NYE 2019. Multiple dance floors provide more than ample room to rock out to the live music of the Crystal Method. The party includes a balloon drop, a VIP champagne toast at midnight, lots of VIP options, and overnight parking; Discovery Ventura, discoveryventura.com. December 31 Ring in 2019 on a four-hour roundtrip ride on the NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER PARTY TRAIN. The vintage passenger locomotive is packed with colorful Hollywood character actors. The

adults-only celebration includes dinner, dancing, a midnight toast with champagne, and party favors; Fillmore & Western Railway Co., fwry.com.

JANUARY January 17 The Discovery Center for Science and Technology Science Speaker Series presents HOW OPIOID ADDICTION CHANGES THE BRAIN.

Discussed are the reasons these neurochemicals provide such significant pain relief as well as alternative treatments; Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, discoverycenter.org. January 31–February 3 The hills are alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The beloved play is the story of the von Trapp Family and offers something for everyone: great music, a bit of history, and a bit of romance. This production is part of the American Theater Guild Broadway Series; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, broadwayinthousandoaks.com. Photos courtesy of Olio e Limone and Kevin Steele / kevsteele.com

Show Your Support

Fun and fundraising go hand-inhand at these local events. DECEMBER December 1–24 When careful consideration goes into buying just the right presents, why not take as much care getting them wrapped? The United Cancer Advocacy Action Network offers full-service HOLIDAY GIFT WRAPPING. Donations are voluntary, but in the spirit of giving, monetary contributions go directly to this nonprofit organization that provides services for cancer patients and survivors; second floor of the outdoor shopping center, The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, ucaan.org.

Photos courtesy of Olio Crudo Bar and Gary Moss /garymossphotography.com

December 9 There’s something for everyone at SANTA TO THE SEA, a half marathon, twoperson half-marathon relay, 5K run-walk, 1K Kids Fun Run, Diaper Dash, costume contest, charity challenge and neighborhood challenges, finish line festival, holiday marketplace, and toy drive. The picturesque courses go through strawberry fields, the Marine Emporium Landing in Channel Islands Harbor, and historic downtown Oxnard. Choose a favorite charity, get sponsors, and get going; Nyeland Acres, Oxnard, santatothesea.com. December 14–15 Get the full-on BETHLEHEM EXPERIENCE when Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, animal figures, angels, a tax collector, villagers, an innkeeper, Romans, and a live camel are on hand to recreate the nativity. This drive-through tour is free but canned food and cash donations are appreciated in order to help out those in need; Westminster Presbyterian Church, Westlake Village, gotobethlehem.com.

JANUARY January 1 Pete the Polar Bear leads the way for fundraising as he charges into the Pacific for the PIER TO PLUNGE 5K. Baby bears can participate >

Photos courtesy of Olio Pizzeria® and Kevin Steele / kevsteele.com

OLIOCUCINA.COM 11 W. Victoria St., Ste.’s 17, 18 & 21

| Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | 805.899.2699

from Camarillo’s leading medical spa...

Insider in the Tot Trot and bigger bears can freeze their tootsies off in the Polar Plunge. Everyone who takes the plunge gets a beanie, and costumes are encouraged. Proceeds benefit Transitions-Mental Health Association based in San Luis Obispo; Pismo Beach Pier, classiccalifornia.com/events2/ pier-to-plunge. January 12–13 REO SPEEDWAGON had already scheduled a concert gig for January 12, but now the band is performing two shows that benefit the victims of the Borderline Bar and Grill shooting and the Woolsey wildfire that followed. Lead singer Kevin Cronin resides in Westlake Village and his twin sons Josh and Shane are members of the band Sir Please, which opens the show; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, civicartsplaza.com. January 23 Hate marine pollution? The folks at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center say, “Be a part of the solution,” so heed their words and help pick up trash at the OCEAN AMBASSADORS: EAST BEACH CLEANUP; Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, sbnature.org.

*Unretouched photos of actual patient immediately after 1 treatment. Individual results may vary.

Get natural looking results with no surgery or downtime. Everyone will notice, but nobody will know.

January 26 Help the underserved populations of Southern California learn about the benefits of exercise, nutrition, and wellness at the MIRACLE OF MOVEMENT GALA to support Fit 4 the Cause. The nonprofit organization provides licensed fitness trainers and nutrition educators to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those rehabbing from injuries or living with chronic conditions, fragile seniors, and at-risk elementary and high school students. The party theme is Superheroes, so feel free to accessorize formalwear with capes, masks, emblems, and crowns; Hyatt Regency Westlake, fit4thecause.org.

FEBRUARY

microneedling with PRP

Leslie Petersen, Nurse Practitioner & Clinical Director

Schedule your FREE consultation today!

805.312.7070

seewhatsbeyond.com 268 Village Commons Blvd. Suite 19 Camarillo, CA 93012

February 2 Get in the habit of running with purpose and passion at the Sisters of Notre Dame (SND) and La Reina High School and Middle School’s NUN RUN. Two races are offered: a 5K and a 1-Mile Fun Run. Fuel up with a pancake breakfast and attend the community service fair to mix and mingle with area representatives. Proceeds support the SND Life & Ministry Fund, which provides spiritual, educational, and social outreach around the world; La Reina High School and Middle School, Thousand Oaks, nun.run. February 8 Learn how to take precautions to ward off heart disease and live a healthy life at the SANTA BARBARA GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON. Chat up the experts at the health expo, and don’t forget to wear red; Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, goredsb.heart.org. February 15 Give a listen to experts on how to fight heart disease at the VENTURA GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON. Event co-chairs include Darren W. Lee, the president and CEO of St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, and James McPherson, M.D., medical director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic

Surgeons of Ventura County; Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, ahacamarillo.ejoinme.org/myeve nts/20182019venturagoredluncheon.

Look for our newest location in Oxnard at The Collection!

Worth a Drive

Venture just outside the 805 for these choice events. Through April 21 As the most comprehensive Porsche exhibit outside of Stuttgart, THE PORSCHE EFFECT showcases a historically significant collection of the German brand’s street and race cars as well as artifacts, historical documents tracing the marque’s history in engineering, kinetic art, and branding, presenting some of the marque’s rarest automobiles. Vehicular eye candy includes the 1939 Berlin-Rome Type 64 race car, a 906 race car, the 919 endurance racer, the Petersen Collection’s 901 and Continental, a rare model X83 Turbo S Flachbau 964, and the legendary 935 K3 Le Mans winner; Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, petersen.org. December 15–June 30 Opened in October, the Natural History Museum’s first large-screen 3-D theater—the NHM 3D Theater—is dedicated to presenting immersive experiences on the natural and cultural worlds. The film INCREDIBLE PREDATORS presents extraordinary footage of predators—cheetahs, leopards, polar bears, frigate birds, blue whales, and others—in terms of what enables them to survive. Admission includes museum entry; Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, nhm.org.

Give Back

Whatever your interests, there’s a volunteer opportunity just right for you. Help prevent food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce at farmers’ markets, backyard fruit trees, public orchards, and wholesale produce markets as a volunteer for FOOD FORWARD. The nonprofit organization, with chapters in Ventura and Santa Barbara, is dedicated to fighting hunger by salvaging safe, healthful food and giving it to those in need. Volunteers must register on the website before collection dates. Tasks include distributing boxes to participating produce vendors, then collecting, weighing, and preparing the boxes of food for pick-up. At backyard fruit harvests, duties include picking and boxing fruit. Volunteers must be at least 5 years of age for fruit picks and 12 years old for farmers’ market recovery events. Those younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who also registers for the event; foodforward.org.  If you would like to submit your event or organization for possible inclusion in Insider, please email the information and a contact number/email to insider@805living.com. Please submit your request no later than 14 weeks prior to the issue in which you’d like the information to appear.

Los Agaves is a family owned Mexican restaurant serving traditional handcrafted recipes from the finest ingredients… Always.

r e s t a u r a n t

Santa Barbara | Goleta | Westlake Village | Oxnard www.los-agaves.com

Faces in the Crowd By Nancy Ransohoff

Abaseh Mirvali THIS VISIONARY ARTS LEADER IS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

MARY M c CARTNEY

baseh Mirvali, the new executive director, chief curator, and CEO of the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB; mcasantabarbara. org), started work in September and literally hit the ground running. “A board member took me on a walk, and I had to practically run to keep up,” she says with a laugh. In her new position, the energetic Mirvali sets the curatorial and planning vision of the nonprofit institution, along with advancing its mission regionally, nationally, and internationally. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with the MCASB family as well as the wider Santa Barbara, greater Los Angeles, and international cultural communities to present an expanded vision of what a museum can provide in our times,” she says.

Mirvali is slated to play a major role in shaping the museum’s future, which includes an expansion to a new location in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone arts district. Her job entails working with the MCASB Board of Trustees and staff to launch a capital campaign and plan for the construction of the new stand-alone building. Founded as Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum in 1976, MCASB has occupied its current hidden-gem, free-admission exhibition space in Paseo Nuevo’s Upper Arts Terrace since 1990. “It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to honor art and education with impactful exhibitions,” says Mirvali, “and to educate in a different way. We want to make [the museum] a hub where people can make new discoveries in a building that honors the context and geography of Santa Barbara and to create a space that’s so beautiful that people want to spend time there.” Mirvali enthusiastically embraces the global perspective of contemporary art. Born in Iran and raised in San Francisco and Spain, the UC Santa Cruz grad has lived in Mexico City for the last 15 years and began dividing her time between there and Berlin in 2009. As a renowned independent contemporary art and architecture curator, she has collaborated with artists, institutions, and architects on projects in cities including Berlin, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Turin, Vienna, Mexico City, Milan, New York City, São Paolo, and Istanbul. “I’m really excited to be in Santa Barbara sharing something I feel so strongly about,” says Mirvali. “Contemporary art has so many possibilities. It helps you look at the world and communicate with people in a different way. I think we can do something really amazing.” 

A Holiday Affair

Steer your sleigh to the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara on Thursday, December 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for some seasonal cheer. Enjoy wine from sponsor August Ridge Vineyards, cocktails, and special DJ sets by Ted Coe, and purchase gifts of art from select vendors and the MCASB store.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Arts & Culture By Joan Tapper

Moving on Up

THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF ART THOUSAND OAKS PUTS ART WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

orget the image of an art museum as an aloof, ivory-tower institution. With today’s outreach programming and often provocative exhibitions, that picture is outdated. Now the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) has gone a step further. A few weeks ago, the burgeoning institution relocated to its new home in The Oaks mall, with expanded galleries and a range of possibilities for the future. To allow for growth until long-term plans for a freestanding museum can be realized, the board worked out a strategic partnership with the Macerich-owned property for a 5,500-square-foot area between Nordstrom and Macy’s. The move has wonderful benefits, notes Tish Greenwood, CMATO’s executive director. For starters, there’s the space itself: “The place is gorgeous,” she says. It has wood floors, good lighting, and room for offices and galleries for exhibitions of photography, painting, sculpture, new media, and installations. As for location, “being in a mall is perfect,” Greenwood adds. “We want to demystify the museum experience. It’s so accessible, and there’s no charge for admission.” (Donations are suggested.) In planning the inaugural exhibit at The Oaks, Greenwood was prompted by stories about Jungleland, an animal theme park that was part of Thousand Oaks history decades ago. Collection of Rarities includes 13 whimsical yet serious paintings by contemporary Colorado artist Kevin Sloan that touch on the ways we interact with wildlife against a rapidly changing environmental landscape. Images such as a porcelain-patterned elephant balancing on a world globe, for example, hint at these animals’ fragile condition despite their size and apparent strength. Two of the paintings were created specifically for this exhibit. When Sloan learned that Jungleland had giant tortoises that children could ride on, he

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

A bold but delicately patterned stag centers The Attraction by Kevin Sloan, whose paintings inaugurate CMATO’s new home.

created 96 Springs. “Tortoises can live to be 150 years old, and the painting is about something longlived, covered with candles like a birthday cake. It’s an image of hope and perseverance,” he says. His Safe Haven focuses on swan boats, like those that also were part of Jungleland. Sloan says that his work “points quietly toward something in peril, but it’s not explicit. It’s of the moment, but not topical. It’s bigger than that.” Greenwood, who joined CMATO in 2016, anticipates that the paintings will appeal to both adults and children on different levels, and she has >

LAGUNA BLANCA OPEN HOUSE EVENTS GRADES 5-12 SATURDAY 1/12 I 9:30AM-12:00PM I 4125 PALOMA DRIVE GRADES EK-4 TUESDAY 1/15 I 3:30-5:00PM I 260 SAN YSIDRO ROAD LEARN MORE AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT lagunablanca/hello

Arts & Culture

In Modern Blindness (left) and Delicate Flowers (above) the artist metaphorically explores the precarious ways humans interact with wildlife.

“This is not a stuffy museum. It’s about people coming in and having meaningful encounters with art.” —Tony Principe, CMATO chairman of the board complemented them with additional programming that draws on contributions by local artists in other media: Several poets give voice to the subject of Sloan’s paintings, and there’s an interactive installation by Karen Payton called Forest of Wishes. Greenwood is already planning the exhibit for next spring and summer, which she says will be a total about-face: “Risk, a local graffiti artist, will produce a beyond-the-streets show that promises to be a total blockbuster,” she says. Meanwhile CMATO’s new facility represents the latest step in the institution’s evolution. “The concept to bring a museum to Thousand Oaks had been around a long time,” says Tony Principe, chairman of the board, adding that plans had been very vague, with no specific location. A few 68

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

years ago, the board negotiated an agreement for a site in front of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and the city donated the use of the former Taco Bell building there. “We remodeled the building, created gallery and administrative spaces, and hired Tish as executive director,” Principe says. “She started filling the space with exhibits and programs, and we went from a conceptual museum to an actual museum open to the public.” Then, looking to the future, the board considered building a full-scale museum, but the daunting price tag led them to plan more modest phased construction on the Taco Bell site instead. As it turned out, the city had different ideas, but CMATO was able to capitalize on its momentum and come up with the alternative at The Oaks. “This made sense,” says Principe. “The Oaks has a million visitors a year. The whole community goes there. There’s security, unlimited parking. It’s an opportunity to grow to the next level and get the community involved. The huge foot traffic is important for the museum and great branding for sponsors, who can hold events, screenings, and other programming. “This is not a stuffy museum,” he says. “It’s about people coming in and having meaningful encounters with art. We want to increase awareness, attendance, and participation. We hope people will join as members, volunteers, and donors. There are all kinds of opportunities.” Says Greenwood, “A museum is one of the last places where people of different backgrounds and social classes come together. CMATO is a place where ideas are shared and people connect.”  CMATO is open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; cmato.org. Collection of Rarities is on view through February 17, 2019.

YOUR ARCHITECT YOUR CONTRACTOR YOUR BROKER

BUILDING IDYLLIC AND ENCHANTING HOMES FROM THE GROUND UP YOUR ARCHITECT M Esa Architects, Mohammed Esa, AIA CA LIC #C24004

YOUR CONTRACTOR HYDAM CONSTRUCTION INC Mohammed Esa, General Contractor LIC # 950005

CALL US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 805-498-7786 HYDAM CONSTRUCTION INC. 311 HAIGH ROAD THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320

YOUR BROKER HYDAM REALTY INC. Mohammed Esa BRE LIC # 02018247

www.hydamhomes.com www.hydam.com

Upgrades Winter’s Nap

GET COZY WITH SOFT, FUZZY, FURRY HOME DECOR. By Frances Ryan

“Mina” acrylic ball swivel chair with cushion ($1,699 chair, $499 cushion); rhteen.com. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Upgrades

1 3

6 1. Palecek “Cayman” rattan hanging pendant ($1,766); The Sofa Guy, Thousand Oaks, thesofaguy.com.

2. “Swiss Army” pouf ($225); Chandeliers & Tulips, Agoura Hills, chandeliersandtulips.com. 3. Chunky hand-knit throw ($375 each); RH at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, and Santa Barbara; rh.com. 4. Convertible “Triangle” floor cushion ($129); Urban Outfitters at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, The San Luis Obispo Collection, Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, and Malibu; urbanoutfitters.com.

7 8

5. “Hedgehouse” throwbed ($378); Serena & Lily, Pacific Palisades, serenaandlily.com. 6. “Moon” shag pillow ($220); Beautiful Mess Home & Garden, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com. 7. Palecek “Annabel” hassock handwoven natural-cotton textile over metal-frame stool ($908); The Sofa Guy, Thousand Oaks, thesofaguy.com.

8. Natural cowhide leather–trimmed rug ($828–$1,069, depending on hide); Cabana Home, Santa Barbara, cabanahome.com. 9. “Sophie Kashmir” faux-fur bench ($499); rhteen.com. 

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

©2018 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS.CalDRE# 01209580, 01317331

L AUR A DR AMMER

TOP 1% OF BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY AGENTS NATIONWIDE REPRESENTING SANTA BARBARA & THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY LUXURY PROPERTIES SPECIALIST | RANCHES , VINEYARDS, & ESTATES

LAURA@LAURADRAMMER.COM | 805.448.7500 | WWW.LAURADRAMMER.COM | DRE:01209580 2933 San Marcos Ave. Suite 102, Los Olivos, CA 93441 | 1170 Coast Village Rd. Montecito, CA 93108 THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “GOOD” REALTOR AND A “GREAT” REALTOR. THAT DIFFERENCE IS IN THE “DETAILS”. LET ME SHOW YOU THE “DETAILS” THAT A “GREAT” REALTOR CAN BRING TO THE TABLE

Year-End Floor Sample Sale 20-70% Off

COM PL ET E IN T ER IOR DESIGN SHOW ROOM Featuring more than 200 manufacturers Alderman Bushé Interiors would like to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the fire victims. We will be offering extensive factory supported discounts. Let us help you with all your Interior Design needs.

1881 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks 805.498.5588 AldermanBusheInteriors.com Mon–Sat 10-5 Sun by Appt.

Good Deeds By Mark Langton

Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center For more than 35 years, Jodi House (jodihouse.org) has been providing specialized care for survivors of acquired brain injury in Santa Barbara County. The nonprofit organization and its partners also provide the survivorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; families and caregivers with education and support. Programs include classes in physical balance, strength, memory, communication skills, music therapy, meditation, and healthy cooking as well as reintegration services. In late September, Jodi House held its inaugural fall luncheon at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club to honor Philip Delio, M.D., director of stroke services at Cottage Health, and present him with the Jodi House Community Partner Award.

1. Philip Delio, Lindsey Fry 2. Erin Muslera, Sarah Sinclair 3. Brandi Rivera, Austin Lampson 4. Ernesto Paredes, David Edelman, Earl Minnis 5. Adriana Mezic, Karen Chackel 6. Tim Morton-Smith 7. Carol Kallman, Kelly Johnson 8.Â Rebecca Pifer, Jennifer Wobig 9. Wendy Cooper 10. John and Elizabeth Poucher 11. Martin Wuttke Photographs by Ky Schultz

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

SANTA BARBARA

ART DISTRICT Santa Barbara Museum of Art

10 West Gallery

10 West Anapamu Street 805-770-7711

1130 State Street 805-963-4364

Mon - Sat 11 am - 5:30 pm Sun 12 - 5 pm. Closed Tues 10westgallery.com

Tues - Sun 11am - 5 pm Thurs evenings 5 - 8 pm (Free) sbma.net

Indigo Interiors

Sullivan Goss

1321 State Street 805-962-6909

An American Gallery 11 East Anapamu Street 805-730-1460

Mon - Fri 10 am - 5 pm Sat 11 am - 5 pm

Sun - Wed 10 am - 5:30 pm Thurs - Sat 10 am - 8 pm sullivangoss.com

indigointeriors.com

Santa Barbara Fine Art

Waterhouse Gallery

Arlington Plaza 1324 State Street, Suite J 805-845-4270

La Arcada Court 1114 State Street, Suite 9 805-962-8885

Thurs - Mon, 10 am - 5 pm santabarbaraďŹ neart.com

11 am - 5 pm daily waterhousegallery.com

SantaBarbaraArtDistrict.com

Good Deeds By Mark Langton

Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties

In early October, Los Angeles Rams Night for Wishes took place at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village to benefit Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties (tri-counties.wish.org). Hosted by L.A. Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, the fundraiser was an opportunity for guests to mingle with Rams players including Brian Allen, Jamon Brown, Brandin Cooks, Jared Goff, Johnny Hekker, Cooper Kupp, Joseph Noteboom, Josh Reynolds, and Greg Zuerlein as well as some of the team’s cheerleaders. Guest participants in a players’ challenge event competed with the pros to see who could raise the most money on the spot, generating a total of more than $215,000. Serving Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties since 1985, Make-A-Wish TriCounties fulfills the wishes of children who have life-threatening medical conditions, aiming to provide them with uplifting and positive experiences.

1. Jared Goff, Gilbert Cabrera, Andrew Whitworth 2. Samantha Avalos, Pattie Mullins 3. Mehran Forutan, Andrew Arizmendi, Liz Rusnak-Arizmendi, Al Lemoine 4. Kevin Webber, Jamon Brown, Carrie Webber 5. Rod Gilbert, Kevin Demoff, Kaley Moore 6. Natalie and Josh Yanez, Bill and Darlene Camarillo 7. Mike Whitcomb, Mark and Nicole Valdivia 8. Johnny Hekker, Charlie Skelton, Joslynn Skelton 9. Dore Baker, Josh Reynolds 10. Diane Brach, Mike Powers, Rick Eberst 11. Dave Edelman, Megan Butler Photographs by Frank Salas and Hiro Ueno

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Good Deeds By Mark Langton

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (teddybearcancer foundation.org) was created in 2002 to help families of children who have cancer by offering emotional and, if needed, financial assistance. The organization, which provides support to families living in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties, held its sixth annual Gold Ribbon Luncheon fundraiser at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara in early October. Special recognition awards were given to the Schulte Family Foundation, the Trejos Family, Tracy Angel, Shannyn Tupper, and Robyn Howard-Anderson. Since 2002 the foundation has helped 2,142 individuals with grants totaling $2.1 million.

1. Kathy Kelley, Lacy Taylor 2. Earl Minnis 3. Brian Miller, Carol Burnett, Margo and Jeffrey Barbakow 4. Angie Agpawa, Sylvia Schulte Molony, Jessica Wilbanks, Brittany Travers 5. Bob and Robyn Howard-Anderson, Kayla Ha, David Krinjak 6.Â Shaun and Carla Tomson 7.Â Tracy Angel, Shannyn Tupper 8. Chelsea Valenzuela, Ali Ahlstrand 9. Bella Molony, Denise Pavlovic 10. Bonny and Brody Trejos, Madix Trejos, Harper Trejos 11. Randy Perotin, Kathy Kelley, Justin Fox Photographs by Kendall Klein and Ashly Othic

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Knowledge...Skill...Efficiency... Pride of Workmanship...Teamwork...Poise

AffirmativeEscrow.com (805) 496-7254

difference

experience the

LIC# 96DBO-36193

Affirmative Escrow is a member of the American Escrow Association, Escrow Institute of California, California Escrow Association and Ventura County Escrow Association and is licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight. Affirmative Escrow offers competitive prices and superior service.

TEPPANYAKI 400 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 • 805-379-9300 TARZANA SUSHI BAR • ENCINO SUSHI BAR AND DINING • THOUSAND OAKS & KISHO (VALENCIA) TEPPANYAKI, SUSHI BAR, AND DINING DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM 79

PRODUCED BY FRANCES RYAN AND CARMEN JUAREZ-LEIVA DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Petite Plume “Classic” children’s flannel pajama set ($58): Anthropologie at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; anthropologie.com.

Penny Preville “½ Starburst” 18-karat-gold 3.38-caratdiamond ear studs (price upon request); Polacheck’s Jewelers at The Commons at Calabasas, polachecks.com. “Goodful” by AeroGarden countertop garden and gourmet herbs seed kit ($190); Macy’s at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; macys.com.

Frederic Malle “Bigarade Concentree Limited-Edition” perfume (3.4 ounces, $280); Neiman Marcus, Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, neimanmarcus.com.

Partagas “Legend Toro Leyenda” ($15); Old Oaks Cigar Company, Thousand Oaks, 805-494-1886.

Natural vachetta leather–bound Joy of Cooking book ($156); Upstairs at Pierre Lafond, Montecito, shopupstairs.com.

La Chatelaine “Aqua Hand Cream Trio” ($24); Bijou, Paso Robles, bijouonthepark.com.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Burton “Family Tree Trick Pilot” men’s snowboard ($550); The Burton store at Val Surf, Thousand Oaks, valsurf.com; and burton.com.

Men’s “1964 Premium T” camo boots ($180); sorel.com.

Rolex Baselworld “2018 Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36” watch (price upon request); Polacheck’s Jewelers at The Commons at Calabasas, polachecks.com.

Caitlin Keegan “The Illuminated Tarot” set ($18); Botanik, Summerland, botanikinc.com.

LEGO Creator Expert “James Bond Aston Martin DB5” ($150); The LEGO Store at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; lego.com.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Handmade Asschercut diamond earrings in 18-karat white gold (price upon request); Silverhorn, Santa Barbara, silverhorn.com.

Wood-and-felt “Rainbow” slingshot toy with 10 balls ($25); Len Collective, San Luis Obispo, lencollective.com.

Bed Stu “Silverrock” handmade leather bag ($145); Bed Stu at Malibu Country Mart, bedstu. com; and Ikat & Pearls, Ventura, facebook.com/ikatandpearls.

The Elephant Project “Tembo” ($40); 100 percent of the proceeds go to organizations to save elephants; Upstairs at Pierre Lafond, Montecito, shopupstairscom.

Lagos “Black Caviar” caviar-beaded bracelet with 18-karat-gold crest and sterling-silver box clasp ($1,200); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, nordstrom.com; Neiman Marcus, Westfield Topanga, neimanmarcus. com; and lagos.com. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Bethel Rd. Distillery Grappa di Primitivo ($45); Castoro Cellars tasting room, Paso Robles, castorocellars.com.

Simone Crestani handblown-glass “Trophy” decanters ($375 each); Garde, Summerland, gardeshop.com.

Beekman 1802 “Lump of Kohl” triple-milled purifying bar and “Lump of Gold” triple-milled shimmer beauty bar ($18 each); The Agoura Antique Mart, Agoura Hills, agouraantiquemart.com.

Cashmere slouchy hat with luxe pom-pom ($110); Sharon Segal, Nina Segal at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, facebook.com/theclosetbysharonsegal.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

TOASTER COURTESY OF SMEG

Smeg Dolce & Gabbana toaster ($650); williams-sonoma.com.

Samson “eCruiser” electric bicycle ($1,799); Samson eBikes, Moorpark, samsonebikes.com; and Piston Bikes, Simi Valley, pistonbikes.com.

White South Sea and pink freshwater pearl ombre necklace (price upon request); Silverhorn, Santa Barbara, silverhorn.com.

Ted Baker London “Aether” faux-fur bomber jacket ($395); Ted Baker at Malibu Country Mart, tedbaker.com.

Izola “Stashlight” combination hidden compartment, bottle opener, and flashlight ($28); Beautiful Mess Home & Garden, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Totem candles ($18–$32); Chandeliers & Tulips, Agoura Hills, chandeliersandtulips.com.

Fendi “0325” sunglasses ($485); Solstice Sunglasses at Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo; solstice.com.

Peacock quill pen and stand ($14); Agoura Antique Mart, Agoura Hills, agouraantiquemart.com.

Farmhouse Pottery “Salt & Cellar” gift set ($105); Beautiful Mess Home & Garden, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

John Robshaw “Anjara Lotus” hand-loomed throw ($129); Cove by Van Rozeboom Interiors, Pismo Beach, cove805.com.

Crochet potholders ($10 each); Ikat & Pearls, Ventura, facebook. com/ikatandpearls.

Multicolor “Natural Fancy Color” ring (top) with 1.97-carats each of yellow, pink, and blue diamonds set with halos of colorless diamonds; Multicolor “Natural Fancy Color” ring (bottom) with 2.25-carat green diamond and 1.37-carat pink diamond on each side, set with halos of colorless diamonds (prices upon request); Raiman Rocks, Calabasas, raimanrocks.com.

Stance “De La Cruz” kids socks ($10); Lost in Socks, Ventura Harbor Village, lostinsocks.com.

Vintage 1950s iced-tea straws ($35–$50 each; shown: “Maestro’s Mate” tea strainer straw, $35 each); Anne Luther Decorative Arts & Antiques at The Summerland Antique Collective, summerlandantiquecollective.com.

Native Union “Dual Lightning” micro USB belt cable charging cord ($40); The Container Store at The Collection at RiverPark, Oxnard, containerstore.com.

Schiller “S1-C” water bike ($5,500); schillerbikes.com. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Grove Provisions “Hot Chili Infused Wildflower Honey” ($16); General Store Paso Robles, generalstorepr.com.

“Quintus” malachite obelisk necklace with 18-karat-gold, orange sapphire, and diamond chevron cuff on an 18-karat-gold multichain with diamond clasp ($4,803); Rosa Van Parys, Westlake Village, rosavanparys.com. Through December 31, 100 percent of the proceeds of all Rosa Van Parys jewelry sales will be donated to Ventura County Community Foundation to support wildfire and Borderline Bar and Grill victims.

“Harrison Howard West Indies” tin with 12 Louis Sherry chocolate truffles ($40); Beautyhabit, Westlake Village, beautyhabit.com.

“Plantosaurus Rex” planter with succulents ($50); Porch, Carpinteria, porchsb.com.

Lucite backgammon set ($204); Cabana Home, Santa Barbara, cabanahome.com.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Vita Juwel “Via Guardian GemWater” bottle ($118); Sharon Segal, Nina Segal at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, facebook.com/ theclosetbysharonsegal.

Rocket Espresso Milano “Appartamento” compact espresso machine ($1,750); Honor Market, Montecito, honormarket.com.

Ridley’s Games Room “Food & Drink Quiz” ($15); Burt’s Pharmacy, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, and Newbury Park; burtsrx.com.

GrowlerWerks 64-ounce stainlesssteel pressurized growler ($149); REI at The Collection at RiverPark, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, and The Village at Topanga, Woodland Hills; rei.com.

Ceramic cheese plate with vintage Santa artwork and spreader ($25); Burt’s Pharmacy, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, and Newbury Park; burtsrx.com.

Blackwing “Colors” pencils ($23 for a set of 12); Cattywampus Crafts, Ojai, cattywampuscrafts.com.

Flyte “Buckminster” levitating LED lamp ($349); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; nordstrom.com. 

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Cookie Smarts

Get ready for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exchanges with a fresh batch of recipes and tips from a popular Santa Ynez blogger and baker. RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY REBECCA FIRTH

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

COOKIE LOVERS REJOICE! Rebecca Firth’s The Cookie Book (Page Street Publishing Co., 2018) includes 75 tantalizing recipes that range from quick, easy appeasement of midweek yens for dessert to fulfillment of weekend baking-project ambitions. A self-taught baker, Firth grew up in Long Beach, and in 2009, after three years living in Beijing, she moved to the Santa Ynez Valley, where she had family ties. Five years later, she started her blog, Displaced Housewife (displacedhousewife.com), to combine her passions for baking and writing. Working out of her home kitchen, she began by creating all kinds of dishes but soon focused on sweets. The recipes in the book—all but two are new—are organized in a fun, accessible way. There are variations on chocolate chip standbys, comforting classics, drop cookies, stuffed cookies, and showy creations like macarons, which Firth acknowledges are challenging. “I can’t pick a favorite,” she says. “It would depend on my craving. But my daughter loves lemongrass bars, and my son really likes the burnt-sugar ginger cookies.” A sampling appears on the pages that follow. Already in its second printing, The Cookie Book has amassed an array of fans, including some who have posted photos of their results. Says Firth, “I just hope people get the book, love it, get messy with the recipes, and find a cookie that will become a family favorite.” —Joan Tapper

Blood-Orange Jammy Sammies Blood oranges are one of the many citrus wonders of winter. You will want to make this jam just to smear on toast in the morning, I promise. Feel free to use a different size or style cookie cutter and also to sub in different citrus at other times of the year when blood oranges aren’t easily found. Makes 30 Sammies ORANGE JAM 1 pound (454 g) whole blood oranges, peeled, coarsely chopped (about 3 blood oranges) 2 tablespoons (19 g) blood orange zest 1 lemon, juiced and zested ¾ cup (177 ml) water 1 cup (192 g) granulated sugar 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 1 clove SANDWICH COOKIE 24 tablespoons (344 g) unsalted butter, cut into 24 pieces, room temperature 1½ cups (288 g) granulated sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon (9 g) blood orange zest ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon almond extract 3 cups (408 g) bread flour 1 cup (136 g) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda To make the jam, add the chopped blood orange, blood orange zest, lemon juice, lemon zest, water, granulated sugar, cinnamon, star anise, and clove to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Continue at a rolling boil for about 35 minutes or until the mixture has darkened a bit and thickened. Let cool and remove cinnamon stick, star anise, and clove. Then put in the fridge until ready to assemble the cookies. The jam will continue to thicken as it cools. To make the cookies, in an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar on medium until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl and making sure each is fully blended

before adding the next. Add in the blood orange zest, vanilla, and almond extract and mix for 1 minute more to fully blend. In a large bowl, whisk together the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sea salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to the butter mixture and mix on low until just blended. Separate into two equal halves and pat each mound of dough into a disc. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and stash in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes to rest. Don’t chill for longer, or it will be too difficult to roll out. If this happens, let the dough come close to room temperature before attempting to roll out. You want it soft enough so that it rolls out without cracking, but cool enough that it’s not too sticky. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and cover several baking sheets in parchment paper. Let the dough sit for 10 minutes or longer to soften when removing from the fridge and place it between two lightly floured layers of parchment paper. If you have a silicone baking mat, place it underneath the parchment to keep it from sliding on the counter. Roll the dough to ¼-inch

(0.7-cm) thickness. Don’t go too thin. Periodically check to make sure the dough isn’t sticking and sprinkle lightly with flour when it does. Using a 1½-inch (3.7‑cm) cookie cutter, cut as many cookies out of the rolled dough as you can. Place the cookies on the parchment-covered baking sheet, leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) between cookies. Repeat with the other disc of dough, rerolling the dough and cutting cookies until done. Use a chopstick or other small, round object to pierce a small hole out of the center of half of the cookies. Place the cookies in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes or the fridge for 30 to 40 minutes, and then take them directly from the freezer to the top rack of the oven and bake for 9 minutes. It’s crucial not to overbake these. Let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Add 1 teaspoon of chilled jam to the center of each whole cookie and top with a cookie with the cut-out hole.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

24K-Gold Hazelnut Bars Ladies and gentlemen, an easypeasy recipe that dazzles and brings a little bling to your holiday gatherings. These bars take no more than several minutes on the stovetop (you heard me, SEVERAL MINUTES), and then we walk away, put our feet up, and sip some spiked eggnog while they cool. Smear some melted white chocolate over the cooled top, sprinkle with more hazelnuts, and then sparingly apply some edible 24K gold, letting our inner baller fly. This, my friends, wins the MVP award for easiest holiday treat EVER. Makes 15 Bar Cookies 1 14-ounce (392-ml) can sweetened condensed milk 2½ cups (300 g) dark chocolate, finely chopped 2 tablespoons (14 g) unsweetened dark (Dutch processed) cocoa powder 2 tablespoons (29 g) unsalted butter 4 tablespoons (60 ml) Frangelico 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract ½ teaspoon sea salt 1½ cups (202 g) raw hazelnuts, coarsely chopped, divided 1¼ cups (150 g) white chocolate, finely chopped 1 tablespoon (14 g) vegetable shortening 1 sheet edible gold leaf Grease and line a 9x9–inch (23x23–cm) baking dish with parchment paper, letting the excess hang over the sides. Set aside. Add the sweetened condensed milk, dark chocolate, cocoa

powder, and butter to a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until smooth and melted. This should take several minutes. Add in the Frangelico, vanilla, sea salt, and 1 cup (132 g) of hazelnuts, stirring to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Let set for several hours. In a medium, heat-safe bowl place the white chocolate and shortening and set over a medium saucepan over simmering water. Don’t let the water touch the bowl or let the water come to a boil. Stir constantly until melted. Pour the white chocolate evenly over the top of the chocolate, again smoothing with a clean offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle the remaining hazelnuts along the edges, leaving the middle part free from nuts. Let set for an hour. Grab a clean, new paintbrush, a glass of water, and your edible gold leaf. Press the gold leaf around the surface of the white chocolate, leaving little bits of gold leaf, and then dampen your brush and lightly brush it over the gold leaf to spread it around. Use sparingly, we’re going for vintage vibes, not Miami after dark. Use the overhanging parchment paper to pull the bars out of the baking dish and cut with a sharp knife, cleaning in between cuts for nice, clean bars. In the summer I keep these in the fridge until serving and in the cooler months I let them hang on the counter. Either way, make sure they’re wrapped tightly if not eating immediately.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Cherry Streusel Jam Bars With Pink Peppercorn Cookie Crust You’re going to bookmark this recipe not just because these bars are freaking delicious, but also because you’re going to want to make extra jam to smear on top of everything in your kitchen or just eat straight from the jar with a spoon. The cherry jam is scented with almond extract (just like my favorite cherry pie), with that flavor echoed by almond slivers in the streusel. The crust has the consistency of a sandy sugar cookie with just a smidge of spice from the pink peppercorns. And don’t let the peppercorns fool you . . . they’re actually a berry that lends the most delicate flavor and color to the crust. Makes 15 Bar Cookies CHERRY JAM 1 pound (434 g) fresh cherries, pitted and halved ½ cup (96 g) granulated sugar ½ cup (83 g) dried tart cherries 3 tablespoons (45 ml) lemon juice 3 tablespoons (28 g) lemon zest 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water 2 teaspoons (10 ml) almond extract 2 teaspoons (6 g) cornstarch ½ teaspoon cinnamon COOKIE CRUST 6 tablespoons (72 g) granulated sugar 2 tablespoons (17 g) whole pink peppercorns 2 cups (272 g) all-purpose flour ¼ cup (38 g) cornstarch

1 teaspoon sea salt 20 tablespoons (287 g) unsalted butter, cut into 20 pieces, room temperature STREUSEL ½ cup (68 g) all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons (41 g) brown sugar, packed ½ teaspoon cinnamon ⅛ teaspoon cardamom ⅛ teaspoon sea salt 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, cut into 4 chunks, cold 3 tablespoons (30 g) almond slivers ¼ cup (33 g) powdered sugar, to garnish To make the jam, add the fresh cherries, sugar, dried cherries, lemon juice, lemon zest, water, almond extract, cornstarch, and cinnamon to a medium saucepan over high heat, stirring to blend. Bring it to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened. The jam will continue to thicken as it cools. Set aside to cool completely. To make the crust, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease an 8x11–inch (20.3x28– cm) casserole dish and line with parchment paper, letting the excess fall over the sides. In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, add the sugar and peppercorns and run for 2 to 3 minutes. Sift out and discard any big peppercorn chunks and return the sugar to the food processor.

Place the flour, cornstarch, and salt in the food processor and pulse several times to mix. Sprinkle the butter over the flour mixture and run the processor for 1 minute or until a ball forms. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the casserole dish; it will seem heavily seasoned with peppercorns and excessively buttery . . . but it’s perfect. Bake in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes or until the sides are lightly bronzed. Set aside to cool completely. To make the streusel, in a small bowl whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and sea salt. Using a pastry blender, or two forks, work the butter into the mixture until it has the consistency of wet sand. Mix in the almonds. Pinch together to make small clumps throughout the streusel and then stash in the fridge or freezer until ready to use. Increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). To assemble, pour the jam evenly on top of the crust and then sprinkle with the streusel. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes until the jam is bubbly and the streusel lightly bronzed. Once cool, sift the powdered sugar over the top. Use the parchment handles to pull the cookies out of the pan. Grab a sharp knife and cut into squares, cleaning the knife with a damp towel between cuts.

TIP

If you decide you can’t be bothered with pitting a pound of cherries, feel free to reach for your favorite jam. You’ll need about 1½ cups (340 ml) for the filling. If you omit the peppercorns there is no need to pulse the sugar by itself. The jam and streusel can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until use.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Red Velvet Madeleines There is something so striking about anything red velvet, making them the perfect recipe to have on hand for when you’re feeling especially dramatic. Which is pretty often at our house. The cookie itself has a soft chocolate note (amplified by the chocolate extract) and then they’re coated with the perfect bit of vanilla bean glaze. These are best made with a nonstick madeleine tin. I’ve found if you heavily butter and flour a regular madeleine tin, it makes the red velvet cookies less vibrant and kind of gunky, for lack of a better term, on their underbelly. Makes 24 Madeleines ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, really softened and cut into 8 small pieces 2 large eggs, room temperature ⅔ cup (128 g) granulated sugar 2 teaspoons (10 ml) red food-coloring gel (I used Americolor Super Red 120) 1 tablespoon (15 ml) whole milk, room temperature 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract 1 teaspoon chocolate extract ⅔ cup (90 g) all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon (7 g) unsweetened dark (Dutch process) cocoa powder 1 tablespoon (9 g) cornstarch ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon sea salt VANILLA BEAN GLAZE 1¼ cups (163 g) powdered sugar 3–4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) milk, or more to thin ½ vanilla bean, split and scraped

30 minutes. If your roomtemperature butter isn’t soft enough to easily smear on a plate, then give it 10 seconds on high in the microwave to give it the correct consistency. Set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar on high for about 5 minutes, or until pale yellow and thick like mayonnaise. Add in the food coloring, milk, vanilla, and chocolate extract and continue to run the machine on low for 2 minutes more, or until the food coloring is evenly distributed throughout the batter. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture and softened butter to the egg mixture and run the mixer on low for about 40 seconds. The mixture will be smooth and creamy with some small butter bits visible. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for several hours or, ideally, overnight. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Add a heaping tablespoon (14 g) of batter to each madeleine well. Place the batter in the deep end of each well, not the middle. Do not smooth or flatten. Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack of the oven for 10 minutes. When done the madeleines will be puffed up in the middle. Let the cookies cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack. Place some parchment paper beneath the rack. To make the glaze, in a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add more milk, in 1 teaspoon increments, if the glaze seems too thick. Dip the madeleines in the glaze and place back on the rack until set. These are best when eaten the same day they are baked. 

Grease two 3¼x1½–inch (8.3x3.7– cm) nonstick madeleine tins and place in the freezer for at least

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Recipes reprinted with permission from The Cookie Book by Rebecca Firth, Page Street Publishing Co., 2018.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Taste FOOD / WINE / DINING OUT

Wow Them With Walnuts TAKE A CRACK AT THESE SWEET AND SAVORY DISHES.

By Nancy Ransohoff

ittle things add a lot to the holiday season. Fresh walnuts in the shell piled into a wooden bowl with a nutcracker standing by are a wintery touch of nostalgia. Once cracked, these bumpy beauties offer satisfying crunch and rich, earthy flavor, along with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. At orchards from Ojai to Paso Robles, walnut harvesting begins in the fall, just in time for holiday cooking. These recipes for local chefs’ walnut-centric dishes are simple to make and perfect for entertaining. We think you’ll go, er, nuts for them.

This flavor-packed spread from Ojai-based private chef and cookbook author Robin Goldstein (privatechefrobin.com) is based on zesty Middle Eastern muhammara. “Roasting your own peppers adds a light smokiness, but you can substitute jarred roasted peppers,” she says. Makes about 2 cups 2 red bell peppers 1 slice day-old bread or ½ cup breadcrumbs (can be gluten free) 1 cup walnuts 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (available at Middle Eastern sections of the grocery store or specialty shops) 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon red chili flakes 1 teaspoon sea salt ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil To roast peppers: Turn stovetop burner to the highest setting and set peppers directly on ﬂame. Using tongs, turn peppers until the skin is completely blackened. (You can also char peppers under a broiler or on a gas grill. Leave

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

peppers whole and turn them every few minutes until the skin is blackened.) Put peppers in a paper bag and close. The skin will loosen as the pepper steams. Allow to cool. Remove pepper skin, seeds, and stem and discard them. Put roasted peppers in food processor; add remaining ingredients. Pulse until blended but still a bit chunky. Spread should have texture and not be completely pureed. Serve with breads, crackers, or fresh sliced vegetables. Red Pepper and Walnut Spread recipe reprinted with permission from A Taste of Ojai: A Collection of Small Plates, Chef Robin Goldstein, copyright 2015

ORANGE-WALNUT OLIVE OIL SHORTBREAD Robin Goldstein also offers a citrus-scented sweet treat. “Nothing says holidays to me as much as the smell of orange and spice. The orange pomanders that are studded with whole cloves and rolled in ground cinnamon are part of the inspiration for these delicate cookies,” she says. “They’re perfect with mulled cider or warm chai.” Makes about 32 pieces 1 cup walnuts 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 cup oat flour

¾ cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 tablespoon ground chai spices (a blend of ginger, cloves, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, fennel, cinnamon, and star anise) 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Zest of 2 oranges 1–1¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil Preheat oven to 325°F. In a food processor or Vitamix, pulse walnuts to a fine grind. Add flours, sugar, salt, spices, and orange zest. Pour in olive oil and pulse gently until dry mixture just comes together and is incorporated. Transfer dough to a 9x13-inch baking pan. Using your fingers, gently press dough into an even layer. Prick surface of dough all over with a fork and precut shortbread pieces with a sharp knife or pastry scraper before baking. Bake until the surface feels firm to the touch and is lightly golden around the edges, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rescore the cut pieces, then cool in pan for 20 minutes or longer. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

WALNUT AND APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE Jacob Town, chef and co-owner of The Spoon Trade (thespoontrade.com) in Grover Beach, >

RED PEPPER AND WALNUT SPREAD

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Wishing Unity and Love to the Community this Holiday Season

Taste Food prepares his take on classic upside-down cake with a crunch of walnuts. “This recipe is very adaptable to many fruits and nuts,” he says. “We serve seasonal upside-down cakes at The Spoon Trade all year long using pears, apples, berries, sweet potato, butternut squash, peaches, cherries, rhubarb, figs, and many more.” Pro tip from Town: “This cake is best after resting for an hour or so. It’s also great at room temp the next day.” Serves 8 to 10 4 ounces butter ½ cup brown sugar 6 ounces butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup sugar 2 eggs 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup crème fraîche 2 cups apples, peeled and sliced or ½ inch diced 2½ cups walnut halves, chopped if desired Whipped cream or ice cream, optional

Call Us Today for All of Your Real Estate Needs

Kaufman Real Estate Group Jill Kaufman Kristy Christensen Rusty Spragg 805.870.5710 team@kaufmanregroup.com DRE 01855802 | 01969673 01889784

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Put 4 ounces butter and brown sugar in 9-inch cake pan and place in oven until butter is just melted. Remove from oven and set aside. Meanwhile, combine softened butter, vanilla, and sugar in stand mixer fitted with flat beater and cream until fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl. Add eggs one at a time and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and mix well. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to butter-sugar mixture, and combine for 4 turns of beater. Add ¼ cup crème fraîche and mix for 4 turns of beater. Add ⅓ of flour mixture and mix for 4 turns of beater. Add remaining ¼ cup crème fraîche and mix for 4 turns of beater. Add last ⅓ of flour mixture and mix for 4 turns of beater. Remove bowl from stand and mix by hand with rubber spatula until just combined; do not overmix. There should be no dry flour left but batter should still be a little undermixed. Stir melted butter and brown sugar in cake pan to evenly distribute. In a small bowl, mix apples and walnuts and pour into cake pan in an even layer. Scoop batter on top of apples and nuts, spreading with rubber spatula until even. Bake in center of oven for 1 hour. Check with cake tester or thermometer. Cake (not fruit) should be 185°F. Bake 10 to 15 minutes more, if needed, until cake tester comes out clean; be careful not to overbake. Remove from oven, place sheet pan upside down on cake and gently flip cake onto sheet pan. Let rest a few minutes, lift cake pan off. Slice and serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired. 

A DV E R T I S E M E N T

SWIRL SIP, AND BE MERRY A TASTE OF DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA’S FINEST

JAMIE SLONE WINES

CEBADA VINEYARDS

DESTINATION VINE

Get cozy in laid-back luxury at Jamie Slone Wines, recently awarded runner-up for Best Urban Tasting Room in Santa Barbara. Enjoy our passion for family, entertaining, and delicious 90+ point wines from local vineyards.

A boutique winery where the winemaker also grows the grapes. Estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling, and dessert wines. Chocolate pairings. Learn about wine from our Certified Specialist of Wine. Mention 805 Living for 20% off sparkling!

Offering exclusive tours of Downtown Santa Barbara’s finest tasting rooms, historical sites and unique neighborhoods. Or book one of our private tours to the D V Eof RT I S E MYnez E N TValley. hiddenAgems Santa Happy Holidays.

25 E. De La Guerra St.

8 E. De La Guerra St.

jamieslonewines.com

cebadawine.com

destinationvine.com

SWIRL, SIP, AND BE M

A TASTE OF DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA

AUGUST RIDGE VINEYARDS augustridge.com

SANFORD WINERY sanfordwinery.com

FREQUENCY WINES AU BON CLIMAT frequencywines.com aubonclimat.com

August Ridge combines the spirit of California with the classic elegance of wines from Italy. Family, food, and friends pair perfectly with our locally grown grapes from the Paso Robles and Santa Barbara AVAs.

Enjoy a luxury tasting experience experience from the first pioneering Pinot Noir Noir producer in Santa Barbara. Our tasting salon tasting salon offers offers aa distinctive distinctive selection of of estate-grown estate-grown Pinot selection PinotNoir, Noir, Chardonnay, wines. Chardonnay, and and sparkling sparkling wines.

5 E. Figueroa St.

La La Arcada Arcada Plaza Plaza 1114 State 1114 State Street, Street, Suite Suite #26 #26

Enjoy Frequency in other! our modernA tasting roomWines like no The furnished room located in the entire tasting family of Au Bon Climat Historic Presidio Neighborhood of wines (more than 100!) is offered, Downtown Santa Barbara. Our including older library selections. family-produced wines focus onand single Renowned for Pinot Noir vineyard selections, offering Chardonnay since 1982, thepure wines expressions acclaimed continue of tocritically be cutting edge. Santa Barbara County terroir. 813 Anacapa St. 831 Santa Barbara St.

E f

Taste Spirits By David Gadd

Merrymakers

Garnish Wine Shine distillery’s Cinful Eggnog with a cinnamon stick or a skewer of toasted marshmallows.

102

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

TODDIES, NOGS, AND GROGS—STIR UP THE FESTIVITIES WITH SEASONAL SIPPERS.

he 805 gets about as much snow each winter as Tahiti, but lack of the white stuff has never kept locals from taking the winter holidays seriously. There’s still the music, the lighting, the decor, the traffic (alas), and, of course, the celebratory food and drink. As for that last part, let’s get the party started with some original regional libations—some hot, some cold, but all with a seasonal vibe—to pour while wrapping presents or hosting holiday get-togethers. BOOZY BUTTERED RUM

To get things off on a festive footing, Roberto Merida, lead mixologist at Westlake Village Inn (wvinn.com), offers this complex version of hot buttered rum, one example of a toddy, an alcoholic drink with sugar and spices, served hot. Don’t be daunted by the steps involved— it’s easier than it looks. After preparing the drink, Merida, who recommends serving it with cinnamon-ginger cookies on the side, instructs: “Get cozy with your warm cocktail and cookies. Sip and enjoy the feelings of the season.” Makes 1 cocktail and enough syrup for about 6 cocktails BUTTERSCOTCH SYRUP ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons brown sugar COCKTAIL ½ ounce DeKuyper Buttershots Butterscotch Schnapps Liqueur ½ ounce Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum ½ ounce homemade butterscotch syrup 6 ounces hot water Orange peel–wrapped cinnamon stick, for garnish To make butterscotch syrup: In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together until well blended. To mix 1 cocktail: Mix first three ingredients in a mug, add hot water, and stir. Garnish with an orange peel–wrapped cinnamon stick.

THE ORANGE NUTCRACKER For culture lovers, Pendray’s Distillery (pendraysdistillery.com) at PasoPort Wine in Templeton pays homage to Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet with a deep, complex, nut- and orange-flavored cocktail, which can easily be ramped up to punch-bowl proportions for parties. A base of bourbon keeps this libation planted firmly in the New World, Italian vermouth lends an appropriately European sophistication, while a pas de deux of Pendray’s spirits provides an 805 spin. Tutu optional. Makes 1 cocktail 1 ounce bourbon ½ ounce Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino ¾ ounce Pendray’s Walnut Liqueur ¼ ounce Pendray’s Orange Liqueur 2 dashes Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters Orange peel, for garnish Combine ingredients, shake with ice, strain into an Old-Fashioned glass. Garnish with a spiral of orange peel.

CINFUL EGGNOG The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without eggnog. The etymology of the term is still disputed and recipes vary, but most pundits agree that the real thing should include booze. Wine Shine (wineshine.com), a Paso Robles– based distillery that crafts its entire spirits line from local grapes, offers a version spiked with a daring dose of its cinnamon-laced, French oak– aged brandy. Easy proportions mean that this one can be scaled up for entertaining. Use storebought eggnog for convenience, but making your own (recipes abound online) will add the stamp of authenticity to this historic drink. 3 parts Wine Shine Cinnamon French Oak Brandy 1 part eggnog Cinnamon stick, for garnish Toasted marshmallows, for garnish Stir ingredients together in a clear stemmed glass or mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick or skewer of toasted marshmallows.

CHRISTMAS MORNING COFFEE When the children roust you out of bed at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day, prepare

yourself for the mayhem with this minty variation on Irish coffee from Willow Creek Distillery (willowcreekdistillery.com), the distilling arm of Paso Robles’ Opolo Vineyards. After a few sips of this holiday eye-opener you’ll be in fine fettle to watch the kids rip open their carefully wrapped presents. Open your own gifts over a second cup. Makes 1 cocktail 1 ounce Willow Creek Thick Mint Chocolate Mint Liqueur 1 ounce Willow Creek Muddy Waters Coffee Liqueur 2–3 ounces freshly brewed coffee Dollop of fresh whipped cream Cocoa powder, for garnish Pre-warm a mug by filling it with hot water for 1 to 2 minutes, then pour out the water. Mix the two liqueurs in the warm mug. Add coffee and stir. Top with fresh whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa.

PACIFIC GROG If by the end of December you’ve had enough of cinnamon, spice, and whipped cream, this bracing grog from Calwise Spirits (calwisespirits.com) will see you through until it’s time to start popping bubbly for New Year’s Eve. Grog is named for Admiral Vernon (known as “Old Grog” for his grogram coat), who introduced citrus juice to British sailors’ rum rations in the mid-18th century, inadvertently providing a preventive for scurvy (hence the term “limeys”). Calwise owner Aaron Bergh, who, at age 26, is one of the youngest master distillers in the world, is committed to local Paso Robles production; he rests both his rums in wine barrels. Makes 1 cocktail 1 ounce Calwise Spiced Rum 1 ounce Calwise Blonde Rum ¾ ounce lime juice ½ ounce grapefruit juice ¾ ounce simple syrup Lime wedge, for garnish Mint sprig, for garnish Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and serve in rocks glass with ice. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig. 

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

103

Taste Dining Out By Victoria Woodard Harvey Photographs by Gary Moss

101 North Bound

A NEW NAMESAKE FOR THE FAMOUS FREEWAY RAMPS UP THE OPTIONS FOR DINNER AND DRINKS IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE.

O At 101 North Eatery & Bar, there’s plenty of crispy-crusted wood-fired pizza (above) and room at the full bar (below), where guests can watch a game and order up creative seasonal cocktails as well as standard libations.

104

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

n one Saturday night visit to 101 North Eatery & Bar (101northeateryandbar. com), a recent addition to Westlake Village, the place is booming. Its modern, rustic interior sets the scene for the New American–style menu by chef and owner Anthony Alaimo, whose experience spans from his native New York to Macau, China, where he met co-owner Jeffrey Helfer, an international tax attorney. Drawn by the venture’s innovation and autonomy, general manager Brandon Breceda came on board from Hillstone Restaurant Group (known for Houston’s, Honor Bar, and R+D Kitchen, among others). Add to this mix chef de cuisine Jon Peloso, an attentive waitstaff, and a full bar with superb cocktails, and one can almost hear the sound of the Conejo Valley’s dining scene ratcheting up over the house music. The restaurant’s seasonal dishes borrow from the traditions of Alaimo’s international experience. His culinary interest began early in his family’s Italian kitchen and on catering jobs on Staten Island when he was a teenager and continued with his training at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He experienced the grit and glory of New York’s iconic ’90s restaurants at Palio and Coco Pazzo during the reign of chef Anthony Bourdain. Eventually, a family visit to Las Vegas turned into a long career chapter with Wynn Resorts at Bellagio hotel’s Olives and Le Cirque, which led to his role as chef de cuisine at Wynn Macau’s Ristorante Il Teatro, where his work was lauded with Forbes five-star and Michelin-star ratings. As a chef in the cultural melting pot of the densely populated Macau peninsula, with its Hong Kong businessmen, international casino-goers, and local Macanese families steeped in a history of Portuguese influences, Alaimo developed a knack for pleasing a wide range of dining preferences. “Our kitchen staff represented six or seven countries—Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Mediterranean, French—I learned a lot,” he says about the job, which lasted almost 10 years.

Co-owners Anthony Alaimo and Real Weng (above) entice diners to come back with Alaimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flavorfinessed dishes, such as Funghi pizza, scattered with roasted mushrooms, Tallegio, thyme, caramelized onions, and Ligurian olives (top, right) and wild albacore kabobs served on a bed of labneh and topped with Calabrian chili tapenade (right). The inviting dining environment (top, left) echoes the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior with stone features, set off with with warm wood furnishings. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

105

Taste Dining Out

In a wall-mural reproduction of an 1890s photograph, Alaimo’s hotelier grandfather greets guests with a raised glass.

When Alaimo decided it was time to return to the United States, Helfer, a frequent Il Teatro regular, considered California communities from San Diego to Santa Monica as possible homes for the new restaurant and ultimately steered Alaimo toward Westlake Village. “He’s an amazing person and an amazing chef,” Helfer says, “and the Conejo Valley is evolving.” After working in a region where ingredients arrived by jet twice weekly, Alaimo appreciates Westlake Village for the nearby providers he visits to make selections for his dishes. “We are close to the farms, close to the ocean, with people who enjoy cuisine,” he says. Alaimo is not one to rest on his laurels and gives the impression that his notable awards are almost a distraction. “I like the ingredients to speak for themselves,” he says. The flavorful ingredients on the wood-fired pizzas do all the talking. Fresh mozzarella with torn basil leaves, San Daniele ham with ricotta and arugula, and roasted mushrooms and caramelized onions top super-thin, slightly charred, cracker-like crusts. Alaimo says the recently perfected dough recipe is one he’s been developing for years. Starters include seasonal artichokes poached in extra-virgin olive oil then cooked to order on the wood-fired grill and served with Maine lobster aioli or a Little Gem salad with Asian pear, cold smoked bacon, and Manchego. A vegan option, the falafel slider is an original interpretation of the Mediterranean favorite wrapped in squares of almost transparent flatbread 106

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

with tahini, mildly pickled cucumbers, shallots, and a creamy avocado puree. The Mediterranean sea bass is a stand-out dish with moist flesh and perfectly crisped skin, accompanied by a unique romesco sauce made from pine nuts and mild, roasted poblano chilis. It’s served with roasted Babé Farms tricolor cauliflower and garnished with salted seagrass tendrils tossed with a bright lemon oil. The wild albacore kabobs are skewered on short bamboo sticks, then fired to medium rare with olive oil and sumac, served with labneh, soft cream cheese made from yogurt, and topped with a Ligurian olive, fresh parsley, and Calabrian chili tapenade. The large, tender Salt Spring Island mussels from British Columbia are steamed in a reduced broth of white wine, garlic, and lemon juice with a bold-tasting, mildly spiced nduja sausage and served with grilled ciabatta. Desserts from pastry chef Sandra Mallet echo the menu’s international flavors: bomboloni, or doughnuts, rolled in vanilla sugar come with a scoop of chocolate hazelnut gelato and a wedge of bittersweet chocolate, while a vegan coconut panna cotta is accompanied with fresh pineapple and candy lime compote and topped with an oat-based crumble. The beverage program includes an extensive wine list featuring California vintners, a maple brown ale from Ventura, a Japanese IPA, and Hood River cider. Traditional and seasonal cocktails come from Austin Franco, a wizard with flavors, freshness, and fragrance who was formerly at Malibu Café. Try the Lavender Empress with Empress gin, fresh elderflower, and citrus or the basil pear vodka martini made with fresh pear puree while they’re still available. During the chilly holiday season, sip the hot wassail and other wintry libations spiced with clove, orange, and cinnamon flavors. 101 North is meant to be a place to hang out, and designer Liza Utter of Malibu has created an inviting, good-vibe atmosphere that’s spacious yet intimate with light-colored woods, smooth concrete flooring, tree and stone features, and an exposed-duct ceiling painted black. In the dining room, tall window-paned doors make up a central wall that opens and closes for customizable seating options as well as an outer wall that opens to the enclosed outdoor patio. The focal point from the entrance is a painted blackand-white mural that captures the restaurant’s spirit. The image was copied from an old photograph of Alaimo’s great grandfather—an immigrant who successfully built and operated his own hotel—raising a glass as if to welcome diners with an eternal toast. “Although he passed before I was born, my family educated me on what he was able to accomplish,” says Alaimo. “The mural is a reminder of his story, an inspiration for me to build 101 North into something great.” 

The Guide W H E R E TO E AT N OW

Our aim is to inform you of restaurants with great food that you might not have experienced yet. The guide is arranged not by cuisine type, but by style of restaurant. “Fine Dining” choices have an elegant atmosphere and very professional service. Restaurants included under the “Foodie” heading are heralded for their wonderful chefdriven cuisine, regardless of atmosphere. “A Good Bet” listings are just that—solid, casual, and delicious. The “Fun, Fun, Fun” category brings you spots geared toward a good time. New listings will appear in The Guide in every issue. Please send any comments and suggestions to edit@805living.com. ON THE WEB: Visit 805living.com for more listings and to make quick and easy reservations at many of the restaurants listed here through Open Table.

Fine Dining

These restaurants have a skilled kitchen team, a lovely dining room, and great service. UPDATE BELLA VISTA RESTAURANT IN FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE BILTMORE SANTA BARBARA 1260 Channel Drive Santa Barbara, 805-969-2261 fourseasons.com/santabarbara/dining Californian and Italian; Entrées $19–45; Sunday Brunch $85 per person

Great Views Named for its sweeping views of lawn, ocean, and sky, Bella Vista has an Italian bent thanks to executive chef Marco Fossati. He uses local fish and organic farmers’ market produce, handmade pastas, and herbs from the chef’s garden at the resort to create such dishes as Tajarin Carbonara di Mare, and jidori chicken with farrotto and smoked corn. Specials include table-side service of spaghetti with caciocavallo cheese and Tellicherry pepper. At the adjacent Ty Lounge, an extensive menu of Spanish tapas echoes the Hacienda-style decor featuring a fireplace, an ocean-view terrace, and hand-painted walls and ceilings. The wine list offers local and international labels. Happy hour Mondays through Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. includes specials on featured tapas ($5 to $9), draught beer and wine on tap ($4 to $6), and select cocktails ($7).

BELMOND EL ENCANTO 800 Alvarado Place Santa Barbara, 805-845-5800 belmond.com/el-encanto-santa-barbara Entrées $28–$48

Great Views, Romantic The luxe Belmond El Encanto hotel perches atop its seven-acre hilltop property with sweeping city and ocean views. Settle in on the spacious terrace or in the elegant dining room and linger over artfully presented California coastal cuisine crafted by executive chef Johan Denizot. Local ingredients shine, including herbs from the chef’s garden and cheese made from the milk of Ellie, the resort’s cow. The seasonal menu features appetizers such as halibut sashimi and mains like king crab leg in lobster-chili broth and classic New York steak with a choice of sides. The wine list includes Santa Barbara County gems and globetrotting labels. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily,

although Sunday lunch is replaced with a bottomless Bellini brunch. Afternoon tea (reservations highly recommended) is served Monday through Saturday. In-the-know locals and hotel guests take in the sunset, cocktail in hand, on the terrace.

UPDATE CA’ DARIO 37 E. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, 805-884-9419 cadario.net and 29 E. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, 805-884-9419 cadariopizza.net and 38 W. Victoria St. Santa Barbara and 250 Storke Road, Unit B Goleta, 805-884-9419 cadario-cucina-italiana.business.site Italian; Entrées $11–$30

The flagship of Dario Furlati’s growing restaurant empire sits at the corner of Victoria and Anacapa streets somewhat off the Santa Barbara tourist path but decidedly worth the walk. House-made pastas with Bolognese, or tomatoes with olives and capers, or with smoked salmon, peas, tomatoes, and cream are available here, along with terra-cotta baked chicken, roasted quails with porcini ragout sauce, and fish-of-the-day specials. Located just a few doors away, the cozy Ca’ Dario Pizzeria focuses on variations of the titular dish, plus salads, pastas and, at lunch, sandwiches. For faster fare, check out Ca’ Dario Pizzeria Veloce and Ca’ Dario Pasta Veloce, both found inside the Santa Barbara Public Market. And people of Goleta, take note: Ca’ Dario Cucina Italiana serves lunch and dinner in a Storke Plaza space decorated with dark woods and white tablecloths.

CELLO RISTORANTE & BAR 2700 Buena Vista Drive Paso Robles, 805-369-2503 allegrettovineyardresort.com/dining.aspx Mediterranean; Entrées $14–$38

Romantic Located at the luxurious Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Cello showcases the cuisine of executive chef Justin Picard, a veteran of kitchens in San Francisco and Aspen who has made two guest appearances at the James Beard House in New York. Look for local, seasonal ingredients (some grown on site) in his pastas, salads, flatbreads, steaks, and seafood. A serene covered patio near the substantial kitchen garden is a fine place for enjoying breakfast, lunch, small plates, or dinner

outdoors. Cello also offers an extensive farm-to-bar cocktail menu and a wine list that includes several otherwise impossible-to-get bottles.

THE CHASE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE 1012 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-965-4351 chasebarandgrill.com Italian; Entrées $16–$44

Romantic With the cozy upscale ambience of an old-fashioned supper club, The Chase Restaurant and Lounge has offered enduring Italian favorites along with American steaks, chops, and seafood, since 1979, proving that the classics never lose their appeal. Sparkling garlands of tiny white lights, white tablecloths, a marble-inlaid bar, tip-top service, and Frank Sinatra in the background set the scene for traditional, satisfying meals.

As the Woolsey and Hill fires began their devastating sweep through Ventura and Los Angeles counties last month, Herzog Wine Cellars (herzogwine.com) in Oxnard announced an offer for firefighters and other first responders: When you can take a much-needed break, come in for free wine tastings and tapas. The offer continues through December 15. The gratitude is endless.

UPDATE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL WESTLAKE VILLAGE 2 Dole Drive Westlake Village, 818-575-3000 fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/dining Californian; Entrées $10–$24

Open during renovations to other dining spaces at the resort, The Art Gallery offers daily buffet-style breakfast and an à la carte menu of sushi, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and more for lunch and dinner. Located near the lobby, Stir is open daily from 6 a.m. with a grab-and-go menu of baked-on-site pastries and savory options to go with cold-brewed coffee, gelato, and other treats. With its fire pits and urban vibe, The Lookout is a sophisticated outdoor spot to start the evening with a cocktail and a small plate or two. The Tasting Room features California labels and a menu of wine-friendly nibbles. Valet parking is $10 with validation; self-parking is free for up to four hours with validation.

GIANNFRANCO’S TRATTORIA 666 Linden Ave. Carpinteria, 805-684-0720 Italian; Entrées $13–$28

Great Patio The family of owners welcomes you here with open arms. In good weather, opt for a seat on the back DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

107

The Dining Guide patio with its garden setting. Some customers always start dinner with a glass of wine and the calamari appetizer, which comes with perfectly grilled baby squid and shrimp next to a crock of slightly spicy dipping sauce. It’s a great idea. Salads are also quite nice and take advantage of the local growers. The pastas are lightly sauced and there’s a daily fresh risotto. Meats include grass-fed free-range lamb chops and rib-eye steaks as well as farm-raised chicken. Giannfranco’s is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday.

BEST SELF MEDICAL ARTS Now providing GAINSWave protocols, a breakthrough solution for men seeking optimal sexual performance at any age. This drug- and surgery-free non-invasive procedure uses pulse waves to treat ED and Peyronie’s Disease and enhance a man’s sex life. Offices in Westlake Village and Camarillo

Board Certified Physician & Surgeon providing conscientious, compassionate, capable care. Call now: 818-646-4115 | bestselfmedicalarts.com

THE GRILL ON THE ALLEY 120 E. Promenade Way Westlake Village, 805-418-1760 thegrill.com American; Entrées $11–$59

Saturday & Sunday Brunch Steaks and chops are legendary here and at the original Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills, the ultimate power-lunch spot. At this location, whether out on the patio or in the dining room and bar, diners enjoy American comfort food with international flair. Sushi is available at lunch and dinner, and the menu’s friendly reminder that “any turf can surf” is an invitation to order jumbo prawns and other seafood with your filet mignon or dry-aged New York strip. Weekend brunch offers avocado toast, Niman Ranch slab bacon and eggs, and $15 bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. Happy hour is daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., when you can make a meal of the specially priced lollipop chicken wings, spicy tuna rolls, and woodfired cheeseburger bites offered with cocktails, draft beers, and wines by the glass.

IL CORTILE RISTORANTE 608 12th St. Paso Robles, 805-226-0300 ilcortileristorante.com Italian; Entrées $18–$34

Il cortile is Italian for “the courtyard.” At this upscale restaurant at the edge of downtown Paso, the courtyard invites diners to breathe in beautiful evenings. A more intimate experience awaits inside, where diners find what the owners call contemporary Old World styling. Northern and Southern Italian dishes are the heart of executive chef and co-owner Santos MacDonal’s seasonal menu. Along with caldi (hot) and freddi (cold) antipasti, there is a section of the menu dedicated to mozzarella. Pasta, ravioli, and gnocchi have fresh, inspired flavors, hallmarks of being housemade. Secondi (main courses) cover beef, lamb, and seafood; osso bucco is particularly nice. The restaurant has a small bar area and a wine list that raises a glass to California’s Central Coast and Italy.

UPDATE LA DOLCE VITA RISTORANTE 740 S. B St. Oxnard, 805-486-6878 ladolcevitadimare.com Mediterranean; Entrées $11–Market Price for steaks and seafood Romantic, Great Views, Live Music

VENTURAHARBORVILLAGE 108

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

From the pergola-covered patio of this pretty Colonial Revival house, diners can often see docents in Victorian-era costumes giving tours of Oxnard’s Heritage Square. Dining rooms inside the historic former home offer bird’s-eye views of the grounds through diamond-pane windows. The eclectic menu by co-owner and executive chef Michelle Kenney includes grilled onion chowder, lemon-pistachio pasta, and portobello Florentine, the latter topped with sautéed spinach, pancetta, Gruyère, and capellini. Afternoon teas and hands-on cooking classes are available. Named for the year in which the house was built, the 1901 Speakeasy Lounge in the basement specializes in live music and Prohibitionthemed cocktails.

LUCKY’S 1279 Coast Village Road Montecito, 805-565-7540 luckys-steakhouse.com Steak House; Entrées $16–$69

The Agoura Antique Mart A Vintage Marketplace

Saturday & Sunday Brunch Black-and-white portraits of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Warhol, and Julia Child adorn the walls of this upscale steak house in Montecito. The plates and napkins are monogrammed, the patio is tented and heated for year-round enjoyment, and the bar opens an hour before dinner service begins. Steaks can be dressed with seven different sauces, there are eight versions of potato side dishes, and the onion rings should have their own Facebook Fan page.

MEDITERRANEO 32037 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 818-889-9105 med-rest.com Mediterranean; Entrées $11–$105 (to share)

Great View, Kid-Friendly (breakfast and lunch), Sunday Brunch Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, Mediterraneo provides plenty of dining options for locals and guests of the Westlake Village Inn, where it is located. Executive chef Lisa Biondi showcases local, seasonal ingredients in starters such as Kurobuta pork belly with crispy white polenta and apple agrodolce, Italy’s answer to sweet-and-sour sauce. Entrées include an array of flatbreads, swordfish with sautéed rapini, Niman Ranch double-cut pork chops and oven-roasted carrots with rosemary garlic potatoes, and an 18-ounce free-range veal chop Milanese. The à la carte Sunday brunch choices range from light to decadent. Happy hour, on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., features live music, a $5 menu, and thematic food-and-drink specials (think Mozzarella Mondays and Truffle Tuesdays). Worth a splurge: classic and craft cocktails filtered through the imagination of mixologist and food and beverage manager Jacopo Falleni. Patios offer views of the lake or vineyard; a private room is available for special events.

Mon.-Sat. 10-6 Sunday 11-5 818-706-8366

28879 Agoura Road | Agoura Hills, CA 91301 | agouraantiquemart.com

NEW THE MONARCH 1295 Coast Village Road Santa Barbara, 805-869-0789 themonarchmontecito.com Entrées $24–$54

Daily Brunch Located within the historic Montecito Inn, The Monarch offers a unique dining experience with a sumptuous interior, a full bar, and an innovative menu inspired by old world–tradition. Co-owner and executive chef Phillip Frankland Lee offers composed dishes and shared plates showcasing Central Coast ingredients. Highlights include yellowtail crudo with fried capers and papaya confit, housemade pappardelle with lamb ragout, grilled whole chermoula-marinated spot prawns, and double-cut pork chop brined in brown sugar. The kitchen’s stone and brick wood-fired hearth calls for centuries-old cooking methods, such as heating bone marrow in a metal cone to sear local abalone à la flambadou; slow-roasting beef short ribs hung fireside and sliced to order; and baking simple, delicious breads by Margarita Kallas-Lee, co-owner and pastry chef.

MOQUECA BRAZILIAN 3550 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 201 Oxnard, 805-204-0970 and 1610 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suites I and J Thousand Oaks, 805-230-3585 moquecarestaurant.com Brazilian; Entrées $12–$74 Moqueca specializes in, and is named for, a Brazilian seafood stew typically made with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and coconut milk and served in a handmade, black clay pot known as a capixaba. At dinner, you’ll need friends or a to-go container to help get to the

Competitive Pricing

Extensive Showroom

Over 30 years of experience you can trust

(805) 449 - 2840

www.AgouraSash.com Agoura Sash & Door, Inc.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

109

PROMOTION

The Dining Guide Sharon Segal and Nina Segal celebrated the three-year anniversary of their eponymous boutique earlier this year. Nicki LaPorta and Karen Crystal of Compass Real Estate were guest hosts and 805 Living was the media sponsor of the event.

bottom of small and large orders alike (variations include a vegetarian moqueca made with plantains and a particularly luxurious combination of lobster tails and large shrimp). At lunch, smaller moquequinhas are available along with prato feito, which is a combination plate of black beans, rice, and diner’s choice of fried plantains or yucca with fish, shrimp, chicken, or steak. Feijoada, a stew of black beans, ham hocks, pork ribs, linguica sausage, and bacon, is served only on Sundays. Beer, wine, and cocktails are available at both locations.

MR. CHOW 3835 Cross Creek Road, Suite 18A Malibu, 310-456-7600 mrchow.com Chinese Family-style service $60–$80 per person; à la carte service available Romantic Located in the Malibu Country Mart, this Mr. Chow location shares a menu and sense of showmanship with its famous older brother in Beverly Hills. (Both offer hand-pulled noodle demonstrations.) Decor is minimalist, putting the cuisine in sharp focus. Favorite dishes include honey-glazed prawns with walnuts, enlivened with dabs of spicy chili sauce from the small pots found on each table. A three-course Beijing Duck dinner ($78 per person) is among the prixfixe, family-style dining options, which tend to be less spendy than going à la carte. A small-bites menu is available in the bar, where the cocktails change with the seasons.

NEW NONNA 951 S. Westlake Blvd. #102 Westlake Village, 805-497-8482 nonna.restaurant Italian; Entrées $18–$45

Romantic, Great Patio A casually elegant dining room of distressed wood lit with unique light sculptures by artist Timothy J. Ferrie is a beautiful fit for Florenceborn and -trained restaurateur Jacopo Falleni. The menu avoids the faddish, instead cutting a culinary swath through the Italian peninsula and islands with tradition-rich dishes that reflect Falleni’s Tuscan upbringing (gnudi with pomodoro sauce), executive chef Gianluca Maita’s Sicilian heritage (arancini), and pasta chef Pamela Ganci’s influences from Bologna (passatelli with peas). Service is engaging and professional, while Falleni himself fills the role of sommelier and designed signature cocktails for the full bar.

UPDATE OJAI VALLEY INN 905 Country Club Road Ojai, 805-646-1111 ojaivalleyinn.com Various cuisines; Entrées $11–$60; Saturday Buffet Brunch $32; Sunday Bluegrass Brunch $55 The resort’s beautiful setting can be enjoyed by hotel guests and others who simply want to patronize the restaurants. As the fine-dining

flagship, Olivella features CaliforniaItalian cuisine (see separate listing). Start the evening with small bites and cocktails in the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar, located in the resort’s original golf clubhouse and named for the architect who set the inn’s Spanish Revival tone. Other dining venues include the tranquil Spa Café in Spa Ojai, where light breakfast, fresh-pressed juices, and spa lunch are served inside or on the poolside terrace. The Oak is famous for its casual but attentive lunch service on a shaded patio overlooking the 10th hole of the resort’s golf course. It also serves breakfast and dinner and two styles of brunch: buffet on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and bottomless Champagne with live bluegrass music on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Indigo Pool & Bar offers salads, sandwiches, and adult libations served poolside and in cabanas. The Pixie Café is located at the family-friendly Pixie Pool. Jimmy’s Pub offers a menu of salads, sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, and entrées plus craft beers and cocktails. (It’s also one of the few restaurants in Ojai to stay open past 10 p.m. on weekends.) Next door, Libbey’s Market is the place to go for a quick sandwich and a scoop of McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams.

UPDATE TIERRA SUR RESTAURANT AT HERZOG WINE CELLARS 3201 Camino del Sol Oxnard, 805-983-1560 tierrasuratherzog.com New American Entrées $16–$144 (for 32-ounce rib eye for two), Buffet Brunch $65 Sunday Brunch Tucked inside Herzog’s winery and tasting room, Tierra Sur specializes in wine-friendly meals made with careful attention to detail. Executive chef Gabe Garcia maintains a local, seasonal vibe at lunch and dinner. Marinated olives and lamb bacon are made in-house. Tapas feature Wagyu sliders and a Margherita pizza with basil-cashew cheese. Watch carefully, and you may see your bone-in rib eye for two prepared on the patio’s wood-burning grill before it is served with fried kale and roasted potatoes. Desserts include frozen custards, vanilla-spiced doughnuts, and a showstopping Baked Alaska. Surrounded by the coppery glow of the walls and the burnished-wood wine rack that frames the kitchen pass-through, diners may forget they’re at a kosher restaurant in an Oxnard industrial park. The restaurant is closed on Fridays and Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is served buffet style, with carving and omelet stations and weekly specials inspired by ingredients from local farms.

TRA DI NOI RISTORANTE 3835 Cross Creek Road, Suite 8A Malibu, 310-456-0169 tradinoimalibu.com

Italian Entrées $18–$36; market price for some seafood

Sunday Brunch Even though locals know what they want without opening a menu, the kitchen at this restaurant in the Malibu Country Mart can still impress the rest of us with its handmade pastas, shaved truffles, grass-fed beef, local olive oil, and salads made with produce from Malibu’s Thorn Family Farm. The spaghetti carbonara manages to be both low fat and delicious, and the seasonal specials are a treat. The well-curated wine list matches the food and offers prime selections for sipping on the patio.

TUSCANY IL RISTORANTE 968 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village, 805-495-2768 Italian; Entrées $18–$32

Romantic Village dwellers pack this beautiful space for its warm, friendly service and top-notch food. The menu is small, but the nightly specials are worth investigating. High rollers and celebs consider this their neighborhood boîte. Others come just for special occasions. The lobster and shrimp martini salad has hearts of palm, avocado, and pink grapefruit segments; the baby greens salad has shaved fennel and toasted pine nuts; the whole Dover sole is topped with a lemon-chervil sauce; and the chicken breast comes under a sun-dried tomato pesto.

Foodie

Cuisine that shines regardless of decor, service, ambience, or even views. NEW 101 NORTH EATERY & BAR 30760 Russell Ranch Rd., Suite D Westlake Village, 805-852-1588 101northeateryandbar.com New American Entrées $22–$46

Sunday Brunch, Late-night Menu Award-winning chef and owner Anthony Alaimo delivers seasonal dishes that are big on international flavors along with wine, beer, and signature cocktails. The restaurant’s relaxed, modern setting includes a bar with a large flat-screen TV, a rustic communal table, and an outdoor patio. Expect starters like wild albacore kabobs with Calabrian chili tapenade and grilled Spanish octopus with white bean hummus and mains such as a cumin-rubbed lamb rack, Mediterranean sea bass with green romesco, house-made tagliolini pasta with Selva prawns, and wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas. Sandwiches and sides are on the happy hour menu on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. A late-night menu is offered on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

BARBAREÑO 205 W. Canon Perdido St. Santa Barbara, 805-963-9591 barbareno.com Californian; Entrées $18–$29

This restaurant highlights ingredients from the Central Coast in menus that feature a few changes monthly. Head chef Justin Snyder focused on pastry in his previous culinary lives, evident from the carefully composed salads, tartares, and desserts that emerge from the kitchen. Recurring favorites include starters like avocado roulade made with hamachi crudo and coconut-oolong milk, and cheeky Eggamuffins featuring buttermilk blini stacked with Seascape cheese, speck, and shavings of salt-cured egg yolk. Hope Ranch Mussels with fennel and mustard broth and slow-cooked Wagyu tri tip are also available, along with an extensive inventory of local beers and a wine list that recently garnered a Wine Spectator award of excellence.

THE BEAR AND STAR 2860 Grand Ave. Los Olivos, 805-686-1359 thebearandstar.com American; Entrées $15–$49

VOTED BEST ICE CREAM SHOP – 2018 VC STAR READERS’ CHOICE

652 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Located in the Conejo Valley Plaza Shopping Center

805-497-2000

littlecalfcreamery.com @littlecalfcreamery

Saturday & Sunday Brunch Named for the motifs on the California and Texas state flags, this restaurant, located at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn, sources much of its beef, poultry, and produce from the nearby 714-acre Parker family ranch. The wood-smoked traditions of both states are represented on what is referred to as a “refined ranch cuisine” menu by chef and partner John Cox. Dishes have included cured Wagyu carpaccio topped with shavings of cured egg yolk, stuffed local quail with molasses gastrique, grilled catfish with charred onion dressing, and, for dessert, a chess pie to make Cox’s Lone Star–state brethren proud. Brunch features an à la carte menu with specialty cocktails.

NEW BIBI JI 734 State Street Santa Barbara, 805-560-6845 bibijisb.com Indian, Australian, and American Street Food $10–$16, Grill $15–$25, Curries $10–$18, Chef’s Tasting $50 per person

Chef and restaurateur Jessi Singh partners with star sommelier and winemaker Rajat Parr to offer vibrant Indian fare and local and international wines and beers in this casual downtown bistro. Don’t miss the gol gappa, surprising sweet-and-spicy flatbread balls flavored with mint, coriander, dates, and tamarind chutney or Singh’s signature dish, Mr. Tso’s Cauliflower, featuring the nutty florets tossed in a tangy chili sauce.

UPDATE THE BLUE OWL AT CANON PERDIDO

5 W. Canon Perdido Santa Barbara, 805-705-0991 theblueowlsb.com Asian-American; Entrées $9–$13

Late-Night Menu East meets West at this popular lunchand-dinner spot, where a banh mi DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

111

The Dining Guide sandwich with oyster-chili mayo is on the menu along with a Thai basil cheeseburger infused with green curry and topped with an egg. The café also offers a fried-rice bar with kimchi, pork, and poached eggs among the optional add-ons (vegan and gluten-free versions are available). Beverages include housemade herbed lemonade and local beer and wines on tap. The Blue Owl really lives up to its name on Fridays and Saturdays, when an ever-changing late-night menu of munchies-slaying dishes greets diners from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

the project of executive chef Brian Collins, an Arroyo Grande native who shares skills he honed at Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos with his hometown. The menu, like the beer and wine list, is locally focused, changes monthly, and includes rustic specialties such as crispy kale and house-made fennel sausage pizza, Jidori chicken alongside a wedge of grilled polenta and farmers’ market veggies, and grilled rib eye served over roasted potatoes and topped with a decadent garlic confit and avocado chimichurri.

BOB’S WELL BREAD BAKERY 550 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-3000 bobswellbread.com European; Pastries and Breads $1.50–$20, Entrées $7–$13

FARMER AND THE COOK 339 W. El Roblar Drive Ojai, 805-640-9608 farmerandcook.com Vegetarian; Entrées $6–$14

Located in a refurbished 1920s-era service station with its original Douglas fir floors intact, this artisanal bakery is well worth a visit. For the best selection, arrive at 7 a.m. on Thursdays through Mondays, when the doors open and aromatic scones, bagels, kouignamann, pain au chocolat, and other pastries come out of the ovens. Loaves of naturally leavened, burnishedcrust breads follow soon after. Special daily breads include pain aux lardons (Saturdays and Sundays), and gluten-free Centennial Loaf (Mondays). The on-site café serves breakfast and lunch (think avocado toast tartine, croque monsieur sandwiches, and grilled bread with pâté and onion-bacon marmalade) until 3 p.m. Graband-go items for DIY picnics include ficelle sandwiches made with French ham, Emmentaler cheese, and house-made butter. Check the Facebook page for details about monthly meet-the-winemakers gatherings that include food-and-wine pairings.

Not sure what to get the art collector who has everything? Check out Beato Chocolates (beatochocolates. com), inspired by the late Ojai artist Beatrice Wood, who was nicknamed Beato and famously attributed her long life to chocolates and young men. The product line includes Irish coffee peppermint bark, hand-rolled malted-milk balls called Whoops, and darkchocolate moon faces shaped in molds taken from an impression of one of Wood’s original ceramics. You’ll have fun shopping for them, too: The chocolates are made and sold at Porch Gallery, an 1870s-era home turned contemporaryarts space in downtown Ojai.

EMBER RESTAURANT 1200 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande, 805-474-7700 emberwoodfire.com California-Mediterranean; Small Plates $10–$17, Pizzas $18–$20, Entrées $23–$32

Named for the wood fires used to cook the restaurant’s seasonal and farm-fresh dishes, Ember is

112

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Kid-Friendly Steve Sprinkel is the farmer and wife Olivia Chase is the cook at this combination café, bakery, market, and community center in the Meiners Oaks area of the Ojai Valley. A soup-and-salad bar offers fresh, organic fare for those on the go. The daily menu of vegetarian Mexican dishes like Swiss chard enchiladas and huaraches topped with grilled veggies, Feta, and Jack cheeses, and salsa roja can be made vegan with the substitution of a housemade cashew “cheese.” Gluten-free and raw foods are also available. On Friday and Saturday nights, the weekend farm café menu features dishes inspired by what Chase has harvested from the couple’s farm less than 3 miles away.

UPDATE FINCH & FORK 31 W. Carrillo St. Santa Barbara, 805-879-9100 finchandforkrestaurant.com American; Entrées $22–$36

Weekend Brunch Located in the Kimpton Canary Hotel, the restaurant has its own entrance at Chapala and Carrillo streets. The vibe in the dining room is sophisticated but comfortable, words that also describe the locally sourced menu by executive chef Peter Cham, a Santa Barbara native. Creative starters, flatbread, salads, and entrées change with the seasons for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The latter, served from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, even has its own cocktail menu. The daily specials menu offers buttermilk fried chicken on Tuesdays and cioppino every Thursday. Happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays includes drinks starting at $5 and snacks starting at $3. Go ahead and splurge on the $8 harissa buffalo wings, served with pickled celery and crumbled Point Reyes blue cheese.

FOREMOST WINE CO. 570 Higuera St., Suite 105 San Luis Obispo, 805-439-3410 foremostslo.com American, Eclectic Small Plates $9–Market Price; Entrées $22–$31 In the heart of San Luis Obispo, this combination restaurant, wine bar and lounge, and burrata bar offers a metro-rustic vibe and globe-trotting wine list. The menu by the culinary team of chefs Andrew Cross and Drew Vaughan pairs worldly flavors with ingredients sourced closed to home. Dishes include farro risotto with roasted vegetables, a crudo of the day featuring local fish or beef, and grilled petite tenderloin with mushroom–blue cheese bread pudding. The burrata bar serves several combos: The Bee Keeper marries the creamy cheese with shards of chewy honeycomb and a seasonal fruit or vegetable. Happy hour on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. includes $5 by-the-glass wine specials, a $4 to $10 happy hour menu, and draft beers.

GRANADA BISTRO 1126 Morro St. San Luis Obispo, 805-544-9110 granadahotelandbistro.com Californian, French-Asian; Entrées $14–$29

Romantic, Sunday Brunch Connected to the 17-room Granada Hotel, the bistro is both intimate and big-city urban, combining exposed brick walls with velvet upholstery and an eclectic art collection. (Check out the sculptural “tree” on the patio.) Executive chef Kenny Bigwood’s seasonal menus start with creative small plates, sides, and cheese and charcuterie selections. Don’t-miss entrées include cherry cola–braised ribs at dinner, Cuban panini, and a chef’s selection bento box at lunch, and eggs Benedict made with corn bread, bacon, and chipotle hollandaise during Sunday brunch. The wine list focuses on smallproduction labels from around the world. Cocktails often include locally foraged ingredients like lavender, rosemary, and pink peppercorns.

NEW HELENA AVENUE BAKERY 131 Anacapa St., Suite C Santa Barbara, 805-880-3383 helenaavenuebakery.com Baked Goods, California-Eclectic Entrées $4–$14

This artisanal bakery and café is brought to you by the masterminds behind The Lark, Lucky Penny, and Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant, with which it shares a renovated 1920s-era warehouse space in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The address says Anacapa Street, but walk in from Helena Avenue for the quickest access to Dart Coffee drinks and croissants, scones, cookies, and other pastries made with seasonal ingredients. Open daily, the bakery serves breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., when don’tmiss items include Green Eggs & Ham made with spicy green harissa and grits topped with a fried egg. During lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., head chef Adam Shoebridge offers salads and sandwiches, plus specials like Nashville Hot Chicken served with house-made pickles. Grab-and-go items (think sandwiches, packaged chilled soups, and more) are available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for impromptu picnics off-site or on the rustic patio. The latter is shared by the bakery and its neighbor, the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, which offers curated tasting flights and wines by the glass and bottle.

HOTEL CALIFORNIAN 36 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-882-0100 thehotelcalifornian.com/santa_barbara_ restaurants/ Eclectic; Entrées $31–$50

Built on the grounds of the original Hotel Californian less than a block from Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara’s newest resort pays careful attention to all the luxurious details while retaining a casual yet elegant vibe. Its dining options are equally skilled. At Blackbird, dinner menus by executive chef Alexander La Motte showcase local ingredients in dishes inspired by the Mediterranean with some North African influences; the bar serves signature cocktails in addition to local brews on tap. (Fans of Alfred Hitchcock will get a kick out of his photo in the dining room.) Located in a separate building from Blackbird, Goat Tree is an order-at-the-counter café with its own patio and, in the dining room, windows with a view of the kitchen. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with grab-and-go options for impromptu picnics.

UPDATE INDUSTRIAL EATS 181 Industrial Way Buellton, 805-688-8807 industrialeats.com New American; Entrées $9–$45

To find this destination restaurant on Buellton’s aptly named Industrial Way, drive past the Central Coast Water Authority office and look for a building painted with a mural of floating sausages, carrots, and wine glasses. Inside, you’ll find imported cheeses, house-cured meats, and locally sourced dishes by owner and executive chef Jeff Olsson. The frequently changing menu is noted by pull-down rolls of butcher paper behind the order counter. Wood-fired pizzas can be simple (rosemary with Parmesan) or adventurous (crispy pig’s ear salad with sriracha and an egg on top). Offerings from the Not Pizza section of the menu include chicken liver with guanciale, while the sandwich list offers selections like the Next Level BLT and a beef-tongue pastrami Reuben. Clipboard specials often feature a must-have oyster-uni-avocado combo. Local wine and beer options are on tap. Located two doors down, The Grand Room is available for large private parties and is the setting for monthly chef dinners. Tickets go fast.

LA COSECHA MODERN COCINA 450 E. Harbor Blvd. Ventura, 805-652-5151 lacosecharestaurant.com Mexican; Entrées $13–$23

Located inside the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach hotel, this casually upscale restaurant is named for “the harvest” in Spanish. The menu by executive chef Luis Martinez, a native of Jalisco, marries authentic Mexican flavors with contemporary cooking techniques and locally grown produce. Shareable plates include shrimp and octopus ceviche as well as barbacoa beef taquitos with avocadotomatillo salsa. House specialties include chicken tinga enchiladas and grilled salmon marinated in orange and achiote and served with tequila butter. Thematic specials are available throughout the week: On Margarita Mondays, the featured drink is $6.

UPDATE THE LARK 131 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-284-0370 thelarksb.com New American; Entrées $18–$42

Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone takes flight with The Lark, named for the Pullman train that once made overnight runs between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The past is present in the restaurant’s setting, a former fish market remodeled to include exposed brick walls, subway tile, communal tables, and private booths fashioned from church pews. As culinary conductor, executive chef Jason Paluska oversees a thoroughly modern menu that highlights local ingredients. West Coast oysters with Goleta caviar lime are popular starters to shared plates of roasted chicken with green peppercorn gastrique, depending on the season. Craft brews, wines by the glass, cocktails, and mocktails extend the artisanal spirit into the bar. Desserts by pastry chef Joey Vega include warm Meyer lemon fritters with slowcooked blueberries and lemon thyme.

UPDATE LES MARCHANDS RESTAURANT & MERCHANT 131 Anacapa St., Suite B Santa Barbara, 805-284-0380 lesmarchandswine.com European; Small Plates $5–$15; Entrées $18–$30

Weekend Brunch The vibe is Parisian bistro, but selections at this combination restaurant and retail shop in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone give equal opportunity to the United States and other countries. The by-the-glass wine selection is well-rounded, craft beer is available on draft and in bottles, and the cocktails showcase vintage and contemporary recipes. The menu by executive chef Weston Richards includes charcuterie, cheese platters, and artisanal toasts made with bread from the neighboring Helena Avenue Bakery. Dinner is served daily from 5 p.m., when selections include a local strawberryarugula salad with house-made ricotta and mint pesto and lemon-brined chicken with crispy fingerling potatoes. Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. offers dishes such as shakshuka (a Middle Eastern poached-egg dish) and fried chicken and waffles with rosemary honey.

UPDATE LIDO AT DOLPHIN BAY 2727 Shell Beach Road Pismo Beach, 805-773-8900 thedolphinbay.com/lido Californian; Entrées $16–$58

Great View, Daily Brunch Chef Hector Ibarra brings an eye for seasonal ingredients to a menu that echoes the creativity of the art glass displayed in Lido’s dining room. Appetizers include oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette and braised pork belly with fennel slaw. Entrées include house-made squid-ink pasta, quinoa veggie burgers, and a generous rib eye with curry compound butter. The Chef’s Tasting Menu offers five courses for $75 ($100 with wine pairings). A daily affair, brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., features a threecourse plated option with bottomless mimosas as well as à la carte dishes.

LOQUITA 202 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-880-3380 loquitasb.com Modern Spanish; Entrées $19–$42 Great Patio Loquita is Spanish slang for a wild, fun-loving girl, but this eatery’s menu and food are seriously irreproachable. Executive chef Peter Lee sources the finest meat, fish, cheese, and produce to create festive, communal, à la carte meals, including tapas, pintxos (small bites typically pierced with a toothpick), and signature paella dishes. Drinks autentico include sangria and Spanish-style gin and tonics. Enjoy the spacious patio with two inviting fireplaces, or try the smallbites bar named, naturally, Poquita.

UPDATE MAD & VIN 1576 Mission Drive Solvang, 805-688-3121 thelandsby.com Eclectic; Entrées $16–$38

HAPPY HOUR X2 At Brent’s, doing things in a big way doesn’t stop with our portions. Enjoy specialtycrafted drinks and small plates, as well as menu specials, so you can start and end your day happy.

BOOZY BREAKFAST

from 8am—10:30am

HAPPY HOUR

from 3pm—6pm.

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

113

The Dining Guide This restaurant located inside The Landsby hotel is named for the Danish words for “food” and “wine.” You won’t find a single aebleskiver in the sleek but comfy dining room, but Mad & Vin still pays homage to Solvang’s heritage with a Nordic Caesar salad of local greens, sautéed shrimp, fried sourdough croutons, and dill-caraway Caesar dressing. At dinner, the lamb porterhouse with mint-pesto yogurt and seafood hot pot, paired with selections from the primarily Santa Barbara County wine list, are not to be missed. The bar is a Scandinavian-chic spot to meet friends for lunch on the weekends or for cocktails and small bites daily from 4 p.m.

Traditionally served only on Christmas Eve, the ItalianAmerican meal known as the Feast of Seven Fishes is turning into a five-night affair at Olivella, the fine-dining restaurant at the Ojai Valley Inn (ojaivalleyinn.com). Available from December 19 to 23, the seven-course dinner kicks off with Kumamoto oysters accompanied by basil, persimmons, and lemony sgroppino, followed by dishes that feature fish such as Pacific sardines, salt cod, and other seafood specialties like octopus and butter-poached spiny lobster. At $175 per person, the dinner covers wine pairings throughout, including glasses of sparkling Moscato d’ Asti to go with the Ocean Pearls dessert made by pastry chef Joel Gonzalez. For reservations, call 805-640-2085.

NEW THE MIDDLE CHILD 18 East Cota St. Santa Barbara, 805-770-5626 themiddlechildsb.com Californian; Shared Plates and Entrées $9–$16 Kid-Friendly

This order-at-the-counter café may specialize in salads, sandwiches, and what are called “powerbowls” in a fun, casual atmosphere, but chef and co-owner Luis Sanchez is serious about the food—witness Mouthful’s inclusion on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2015. La Sarita, a sandwich of house-roasted pork shoulder served with fried sweet potatoes and pickled red onions, gets its heat from an aioli made with aji amarillo, a pepper from Sanchez’s native Peru. Additions at dinner might include malbec-braised short ribs on polenta one night and savory chicken stew called aji de gallina the next. Desserts include alfajores, delicate shortbread cookies filled with salted caramel. The Foodies in Training children’s menu includes a turkey slider with fruit, yucca fries, and a drink, all for $6.

Holiday Inn it once was. Another is the menu at Outpost, the on-site restaurant overseen by executive chef Damien Giliberti. Playful takes on classics like guacamole (served with toasted pumpkin-seed gremolata) join pork belly bao buns and roasted sea bass lettuce wraps with crispy shallots. Other highlights include a lamb burger with date chutney and watercress and caramelized sweet potato with turmeric yogurt. Local wines, beers, and craft cocktails are great for sipping poolside, in the dining room, and at the hotel’s Good Bar, which offers mealworthy snacks. Happy hour specials are available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Ramen is a Sunday-night thing from 5 p.m. (go early). Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

OLIO E LIMONE RISTORANTE AND OLIO CRUDO BAR 11 W. Victoria St., Suites 17-18 Santa Barbara 805-899-2699, Ext. 1 olicucina.com Italian; Entrées $18–$41; Crudo Bar $12–$25

PAUL MARTIN’S AMERICAN GRILL 100 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village, 805-373-9300 paulmartinsamericangrill.com American; Entrées $13–$36

Husband-and-wife owners Alberto Morello and Elaine Andersen Morello treat their restaurants in downtown Santa Barbara like the gems they are: No ingredient is too good to employ. The organic extra-virgin olive oil from a grove near Alberto’s home village in Italy is so popular, patrons buy bottles of it for their own use. At the Ristorante, salads are fresh and the pastas and sauces are house-made. Standouts include gnocchi alla Riviera, which combines spinach-and-ricotta dumplings with fresh tomato sauce. With its glass shelves and glowing marble walls, the crudo bar is a jewel-box showcase for carefully executed dishes. Thinly sliced pieces of raw fish are accented with simple but excellent olio e limone (olive oil and lemon) and sometimes a bit more: Try the Atlantic Bluefin tuna belly with ginger vinaigrette and wasabi shoots for a meaningful experience. Selected appetizers, beers, cocktails, proseccos, and wines by the glass are half-price during happy hour service available Sundays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

OLIVELLA 905 Country Club Road Ojai, 805-646-1111 ojaivalleyinn.com California-Italian Entrées $35–$120 (the latter for prime New York steak for two; a four-course experience is $95 or $165 with wine pairings)

Elevated, seasonal dishes are the focus of chef’s chef Taylor Melonuk, formerly of The Lark in the nearby Funk Zone. The casual, loftlike venue is relaxed, with an outdoor patio, an upstairs dining area for larger groups, and a wine bar with local faves and beer on draught. Menu highlights are buttermilk fried chicken with coconut grits; white shrimp in lemongrass garlic butter on grilled bread; salads with arugula, burrata and peach as well as frisée with heirloom tomatoes and pluots; and pizzas topped with wild mushrooms and Taleggio or cured salmon, mascarpone, crispy capers, and egg.

Romantic, Great Views Ojai Valley Inn’s fine-dining restaurant (the only site in the region to receive a AAA Four Diamond Award from the Automobile Club of Southern California) features California cuisine with a North Italian twist. The rigatoni Bolognese is a time-tested family recipe, while the Pacific yellowtail crudo and Ojai farmers’ market salad showcase local ingredients. Beautifully plated dishes are served in dining spaces that include a private wine room as well as a veranda overlooking the first and final holes of the property’s world-class golf course. Olivella also offers a four-course, prix-fixe menu available with or without paired wines and hosts winemaker dinners. Save room for lemon and olive oil cake or almondmilk panna cotta, just two of the creative dessert options by executive pastry chef Joel Gonzalez.

MOUTHFUL EATERY 2626 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-777-9222 mouthfuleatery.com Peruvian, Californian; Entrées $9–$14

UPDATE OUTPOST AT THE GOODLAND 5650 Calle Real Goleta, 805-964-1288 outpostsb.com Cal-Eclectic; Shareable Plates $7–$29

Kid-Friendly Don’t let the multicolored chalkboard menu or the solarpowered toy pigs decorating the dining room fool you:

114

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Weekend Brunch The mint-condition Airstream trailer parked out front is one sign that The Kimpton Goodland is not the

Romantic, Saturday & Sunday Brunch The farm-to-table movement never looked as elegant as it does at this bistro-style restaurant, which also has locations in Irvine, Roseville, El Segundo, San Mateo, and Mountain View. Tortillas and infused vodkas are just two of the items made in-house to augment the menu showcasing organic produce and artisanal ingredients. The kale Caesar salad features wild white anchovies, mesquite-grilled salmon is served with a chilled salad of quinoa and bulgur wheat, and natural meats are used for burgers, steaks, chops, and “brick” chicken (flattened and cooked evenly under the weight of a brick). Weekend brunch service starts with freshly baked millet drop biscuits and honey butter before moving on to your choice of entrée. Three-course dinner specials include prime rib on Sundays and fried chicken on Tuesdays.Available daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Taste of Paul Martin’s menu offers small plates, burgers, and signature cocktails from $5 to $13.

PICO AT THE LOS ALAMOS GENERAL STORE 458 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-1122 picolosalamos.com New American; Shared Plates and Entrées $12–31 Live Music The spirit of a one-stop general store lives on in the historic town of Los Alamos, the northern gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley. Expect to find an extraordinary chef-driven, locally sourced menu by Drew Terp (formerly of Auberge du Soleil in Napa and Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York) offering heart of rib eye, duck confit risotto, smoked scallops, house-made pasta dishes, and charcuterie and cheese platters, along with signature cocktails, beer, and a world-class wine list. The spacious, refurbished building is also the tasting room of Lane Tanner and Will Henry’s Lumen Wines of Santa Maria. Sunday is Burger Night. Upscale but down home, Pico is keeping destination diners as well as the local cowboys coming back for more.

Q SUSHI & KIEU HOANG WINE LOUNGE 30770 Russell Ranch Road, Unit A Westlake Village, 818-540-3231 qsushi.com Japanese; Sushi and Sashimi $5–$24; Shared Plates $5–$24; Entrées $11–$20

This restaurant at the Shoppes at Westlake Village feels worlds away, thanks to its blend of traditional techniques, modern comforts, and one showstopper of a chandelier fashioned from found tree branches. Surrounded by a sushi counter of Carrara marble, the open kitchen equipped with a robata grill also produces sushi, sashimi, and special rolls showcasing delectable cuts of Scottish salmon,

Hawaiian amberjack, and more. (Don’t miss the sashimi pizza, dotted with flower petals and miso beet cream.) The lunch menu served Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. offers salads, bowls, and quick-order assortments of sushi or sashimi. The beverage list includes wines from Europe, the Central Coast, and, as promised, Napa Valley’s Kieu Hoang Winery. Beer, hot and cold sake, and craft cocktails are also featured. Happy hour on Tuesdays through Sundays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. offers specially priced drinks and appetizers.

THE SPOON TRADE 295 West Grand Ave. Grover Beach, 805-904-6773 thespoontrade.com American; Entrées $15–$32

SADDLE PEAK LODGE 419 Cold Canyon Road Calabasas, 818-222-3888 saddlepeaklodge.com New American Small Plates $15–$23; Entrées $36–$58; Chef’s Tasting Menu $145 for nine courses

UPDATE S.Y. KITCHEN 1110 Faraday St. Santa Ynez, 805-691-9794 sykitchen.com Italian; Entrées $20–$38

Romantic, Sunday Brunch Chairs woven from willow branches and game trophies hanging high on walls made of stone and wood speak to the rustic nature of this multistory restaurant nestled in the hills of Malibu. Executive chef Adam Horton is back and over-seeing menus that are both elegant and stick-to-your-ribs: Small-plate options include Peruvian marinated quail, while composed entrées include seabass with housemade pasta and New Zealand lamb rack with smoked miso potatoes. The Chef’s Game Trio offers a diner’s choice of emu, elk, or buffalo with sides. On Mondays through Wednesdays, the three-course Supper Menu is $39 per person. The outdoor patio is a spectacular place for brunch.

SIDES HARDWARE AND SHOES, A BROTHERS RESTAURANT 2375 Alamo Pintado Ave. Los Olivos, 805-688-4820 sidesrestaurant.com American; Entrées $14–$35

Brothers Jeff and Matt Nichols named their restaurant after a business that occupied the building in the early 1900s. The country-store vibe appears in the decorative tin ceiling and menu items like the Hammered Pig, a lunch dish of pork tenderloin that has been pounded thin, breaded, deep-fried, then served in a salad of arugula, pecans, and Parmesan or as part of a sandwich with apple-mustard seed slaw. Lunch options also include fish tacos, sandwiches, and an array of burgers. You can’t go wrong with the ever-changing chef’s burger by chef de cuisine Michael Cherney, who also lets loose with a new Taco Tuesday menu available at lunch and dinner each week. Dinner fare takes on an international flair: A banh miinspired appetizer pairs miso-cured bacon with steamed buns, mussels are served in coconut broth and red curry, and lamb sirloin comes with goat cheese gnocchi and maitake mushrooms. Desserts by pastry chef Stephanie Jackson are homey yet elegantly plated. Local wines are available by the glass and in carafes, supplementing the full bar.

Great Patio, Sunday Brunch The Spoon Trade serves what chef Jacob Town calls “elevated comfort food” in a bright and comfortable neighborhood hangout. Classic dishes (think: fried chicken, pasta, and upside-down cakes) are reimagined with of-the-moment flavors and local ingredients alongside a progressive beer and wine list.

Located on a quiet side street in Santa Ynez, this cozy spot is an oasis of craft cocktails and rustic Italian fare in wine and tri-tip country. Executive chef Luca Crestanelli lets his native Italian roots show in house-made pastas such as wild mushroom pappardelle, salmon puttanesca, and a don’t-miss grilled globe-artichoke appetizer. With its firepits and padded lounge seating, The Courtyard is a great place to settle in for pre-dinner cocktails and glasses of local wine or to stay for the whole meal. A lunch menu of salads, pastas, and oak-grilled meats and seafood is served daily.

UPDATE THOMAS HILL ORGANICS 1313 Park St. Paso Robles, 805-226-5888 thomashillorganics.com Wine Country Cuisine Entrées $15–$41 Sunday Brunch

At this chic but casual restaurant in downtown Paso Robles, executive corporate chef Kurt Metzger builds on the vision of owner and founding chef Debbie Thomas by turning ingredients from local purveyors into elegant, satisfying fare at lunch, brunch, and dinner. (Why, yes, those are Windrose Farm apples in the burrata salad.) Wine, beer, and ciders from the region are also featured, adding to the restaurant’s farm-to-table bona fides.

TRE LUNE 1151 Coast Village Road Montecito, 805-969-2646 trelunesb.com Italian; Entrées $18–$37

Tre Lune, or “three moons,” is part of the Montesano Group, which owns Lucky’s in Montecito and Joe’s and Bucatini in Santa Barbara—and it shows. The walls are dressed in blackand-white photos of celebrities from yesteryear, the floors are Old World wood, and the tables are covered in white linen. Teeny tiny chairs mounted high on the wall bear brass plates engraved with the names of regular patrons. A ring-shaped, rolled pizzabread appetizer is stuffed with smoked mozzarella and braised radicchio. It’s crispy outside and delicious inside. Pizzas from the stone oven can be topped with roasted eggplant, spicy sausage, or mushrooms and truffle oil. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

115

The Dining Guide The wide selection of pastas are available in half or full portions. Veal scaloppine, rack of lamb, chicken Marsala, and even a cheeseburger round out the menu and support the extensive Italian wine list.

NEW TYGER TYGER 121 E. Yanonali St. Santa Barbara, 805-880-4227 tygertygersb.com Thai-Vietnamese Entrées $13–$17; Platters $21–$23

Located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, Tyger Tyger burns bright with creativity. Hundreds of illuminated pink lanterns ring the exterior of the restaurant’s shared marketplace space. Inside is an order-atthe-counter menu of street food–inspired dishes by chef Daniel Palaima, who’s now back in his native Santa Barbara after stints with culinary heavyweights Grant Achatz and Stephanie Izard. Dishes include pork belly bahn mi, crispy chicken wings with caramelized fish sauce, octopus salad with glass noodles and a Vietnamese fish sauce called nouc cham, and Vietnamese crepes with duck and shrimp confit. Beer and wine selections are from around the globe. Also on site is Monkeyshine, which serves frozen treats flavored with Asian spices and ingredients (start with the toasted rice and black sesame options). Dart Coffee, a small-lot specialty roaster, opens its coffee counter at 7 a.m. daily.

What’s in a name change? For the Ventura Harbor restaurant formerly known as Rhumb Line but now dubbed Water’s Edge Restaurant & Bar (watersedgeventura.com), the answer is: a moniker that better highlights its dockside location. Early evening is a prime time to visit, thanks to windows that offer unfettered views of the sunset and to the happy hour menu, which features food-and-drink specials daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A Good Bet

Not too fancy, not too expensive, and a good experience all around. AL MULINO EATALIAN BAKERY & BAR 3709 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Westlake Village, 805-379-0016 almulino.net Italian; Entrées $8–$40

This café in the Paseo Marketplace offers an authentic Italian experience throughout the day, starting with cups of espresso in the morning and ending with flutes of prosecco at night. In between, diners will find fresh salads dotted with ingredients like berries and goat cheese, sandwiches stacked with meats and cheeses imported from Italy, and on Mondays through Saturdays from 5 p.m.,

116

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Neapolitan-style pizzas from the café’s brick oven, visible through a window next to the bar. Dinner specials might be handmade pumpkin tortellini one night and shrimp with arugula and cannellini beans the next. Gelato and pastries are from Carrara Pastries, another Italian-owned business in the 805. Happy hour specials are available at the bar on Mondays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

BLUE TABLE 28912 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills, 818-597-2583 bluetable.net International; Entrées $8–$15

Live Music A few blue tables provide seating for outside dining at this charming deli with high-quality Italian eats for lunch and dinner. The indigo theme continues inside, where blue-wash wooden tables are topped with bouquets of fresh flowers. Different salads rotate through the deli case, and the list of sandwiches is written on a blackboard. (The proscuitto and burrata panini is not to be missed.) Pizzas, soups, cookies, and all other items here are made fresh daily. A small freezer carries pastas and sauces for home use, but anything on the menu can be taken to go. You’ll want to stay for dinner, available daily from around 6 p.m. The menu of comfort-food classics includes eggplant Parmesan and spaghetti with organic ground turkey meatballs. Local musicians are featured on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

BOLLYWOOD INDIAN RESTAURANT #3 860 Hampshire Road Westlake Village, 805-777-7100 bollywood3.net Indian; Entrées $10–$15

Fresh vegetables are used in the curries, masalas, and kormas at this casual Indian restaurant. Chicken, lamb, fish, and shrimp are prepared a variety of ways: in the tandoori oven, with coconut-milk sauces, and in spicy vindaloos. Naan comes topped with garlic, basil, cilantro, and onions, or stuffed with cheese or potatoes. Beer and wine are on offer, along with excellent yogurt drinks like mango lassi and Indian spiced tea.

BRENT’S DELI 2799 Townsgate Road Westlake Village, 805-557-1882 brentsdeli.com Deli; Entrées $6–$20

Kid-Friendly For amazingly good Reuben sandwiches on rye bread piled high with pastrami or corned beef, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, you can’t beat this slick deli. The booths are cushy and roomy, leaving space for your tummy to expand as you down a four-layer slice of chocolate cake or a plate full of stuffed cabbage rolls. A separate bar also offers the full menu. The patio out back allows for even more seating. A counter up front expedites take-out orders. Brent’s Deli is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

CAFÉ FIRENZE 563 W. Los Angeles Ave. Moorpark, 805-532-0048 cafefirenze.net Italian; Entrées $13–$30

Sunday Brunch Moorpark’s movers and shakers go to Firenze for rustic but innovative Italian fare matched with a solid international wine list. (By-the-glass options change each month to include at least one 805based label selected by a local wine blogger.) Chef and co-owner Fabio Viviani makes a splash in the dining room and in the adjoining space, where he often leads cooking classes. When Viviani is

cooking at his many off-site projects, co-executive chef John Paolone keeps the kitchen going strong with imaginative flatbreads, fresh fish, and excellent, dry-aged beef. Check the daily specials menu for Paolone’s growing repertoire of house-made fresh pastas. Available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday brunch is an à la carte affair that includes Nutella sticky buns, Pecorino-flecked biscuits with fennel sausage gravy, and carafes of Bloody Marys.

UPDATE FINNEY’S CRAFTHOUSE & KITCHEN 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 2 Westlake Village, 805-230-9950 and 35 State St., Suite A Santa Barbara, 805-845-3100 finneyscrafthouse.com American; Entrées $10–$16

Kid-Friendly The “craft beer spoken here” neon sign in the dining room doesn’t quite say it all at this casual but polished gastropub owned by Greg Finefrock, an 805 local whose childhood nickname inspired the restaurant’s moniker. In addition to the 30 brews on tap, you’ll find craft cocktails, California wines by the glass and bottle, and a fun atmosphere and menu that has something for everyone. With slight variations between the Santa Barbara and Westlake Village locations, shareable appetizers include gluten-free buffalo cauliflower tossed in yuzu sauce and chicken-and-waffle bites that come with a tangy surprise: Tabasco-braised kale. The house burger is made with a chuck, brisket, and hanger steak patty on a brioche bun (options include gluten-free buns and plant-based Impossible Burger patties). Crispy tacos, salads, and flatbread pizzas are also available. Families and other groups gravitate to the communal tables inside and on the patio. Seating is first-come, first-served at the copper bar.

FOOD HARMONICS 254 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-798-9253 foodharmonicsojai.com Gluten-Free; Entrées $7–$16

Ojai’s historic Arcade is the setting for this lightfilled café specializing in gluten-free fare. There’s something for almost every diet, including vegan and paleo. Highlights include a raw vegan pizza that tends to sell out early in the day, the vegetarian sundara dosa with egg and sliced avocado tucked into a crepe-like wrapper, and the bison burger accompanied by greens and sweet potatoes. Bison bone broth is available with optional add-ons like ghee and seaweed. Beverages include beer, wine, and turmeric matcha lattes.

HARVEST KITCHEN & BAR AT HYATT REGENCY WESTLAKE 880 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village, 805-557-4710 westlake.regency.hyatt.com Californian; Entrées $11–$29

Kid-Friendly Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, Harvest welcomes hotel guests and the public alike. The dining rooms are sleek and comfortable with natural light, and patio and garden views. Executive chef Steve Johnson, a Hyatt Regency veteran, turns up the flavor in offerings such as the grass-fed burger and Alaskan Halibut in Rosemary Butter Sauce served with summer squash and jubilee rice. The For Kids by Kids children’s menu features dishes created by Haile Thomas, host of the YouTube series PlantPowered Haile. Furnished with fire pits and lounges, the outdoor patio is the perfect place to sample $5 cocktails and food specials during happy hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The Angus-beef burgers and crispy crinkle-cut fries at Shake Shack (shakeshack.com) are so good, you might be tempted to ask for seconds. But be sure to save room for dessert when you visit the restaurant’s location at The Promenade at Westlake. It’s the only place where you can order Pie Oh My (frozen custard with a seasonal pie from Cake Monkey Bakery mixed in) and know that 5 percent of the cost is going to Baby2Baby, a nonprofit that helps children in need. Sweet.

HIMALAYA 35 W. Main St. Ventura, 805-643-0795 and 720 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-409-1041 himalayacuisine.com Nepalese, Indian, Tibetan Entrées $8–$32

Live Entertainment Adventurous eaters will delight in dishes such as the Sherpa curry goat and chef specials featuring yak meat. Even the pizzas and burritos on the fusion-food portion of the menu are on the exotic side, since they’re made with naan and chapati from the tandoori oven. Vegetarian selections include bhindi masala, which is okra cooked with tomatoes and Indian spices. Feeling nimble? Try sitting cross-legged at one of the low tables set on a raised platform. The Ventura location serves beer and wine; the Thousand Oaks site has a full bar. Both offer a belly dance show about once a month.

JANE 1311 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-962-1311 and 6940 Marketplace Drive Goleta, 805-770-5388 janeatthemarketplace.com; janerestaurantsb.com Eclectic; Entrées $9–$25

Lots of interesting salads, sandwiches, and burgers are set down at lunchtime on small wooden and marble tables in this cute spot on State Street from the family that owns the Montecito Cafe. Jane is the name of the owner (Jane Chapman) and her grandmother (Jane Moody), whose pictures adorn the high walls. The loft seating and upstairs patio are cool and a bit secluded compared to the downstairs tables, which are always packed in the afternoon. The eclectic dinner menu offers pastas, steaks, and grilled duck breast. For dessert, the soft-serve ice cream is a fun choice, as is the coconut cake.

KING’S FISH HOUSE 4798 Commons Way Calabasas, 818-225-1979 Seafood; Entrées $10–$39 (and up to $72 for a 3-pound lobster)

Kid-Friendly With three ample dining areas, a large menu, and well-executed dishes, this Calabasas fave is part of the King’s Seafood Company (Water Grill, I Cugini), so the fish is always fresh. The menu is printed daily; expect the best picks to be sold out by the end of the evening. The fried oysters and the clam chowder are reliable favorites. This place is big

enough to handle energetic kids and good enough to satisfy adult tastes.

LOS AGAVES RESTAURANT 600 N. Milpas St. Santa Barbara, 805-564-2626 and 2911 De la Vina St. Santa Barbara, 805-682-2600 and 7024 Market Place Drive Goleta, 805-968-4000 and 2810 Portico Way, Suite 1105 Oxnard, 805-278-9101 and 30750 Russell Ranch Road, Suite G Westlake Village, 818-874-0779 los-agaves.com Mexican; Entrées $9–$17

Launched in Santa Barbara in 2008, this family-owned and operated group of restaurants has clearly struck a chord: Its original location was number 16 on Yelp’s list of Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2016. The mix of authentic Mexican cuisine with casual but attentive order-at-the-counter service can now be found at five sites in and around the 805. Each offers the same menu of house-made tortillas, ceviche, salads, and burritos filled with all manner of seafood, poultry, or beef. Signature dishes include the show-stopping Land and Sea molcajete, a bubbling-hot mixture of meat and seafood with house-made salsa, avocado, chorizo, grilled onion, and nopal, served in a three-legged bowl carved from volcanic rock. Los Agaves restaurants in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Oxnard serve beer and wine as well as agave margaritas and micheladas. The Shoppes at Westlake Village location has a full bar that offers top-shelf tequilas and drink specials. Diners who sit at the bar can order food there, too.

MARMALADE CAFE 4783 Commons Way Calabasas, 818-225-9092 and 3894 Cross Creek Road Malibu, 310-317-4242 and 140 Promenade Way Westlake Village, 805-370-1331 marmaladecafe.com American; Entrées $10–$22

Enjoy Expansive Views, Picnic Areas, Bocce Ball and Award-Winning Wines

In the heart of the Edna Valley

OPEN DAILY 10:00am - 5:00pm 805.269.8200 5828 Orcutt Road San Luis Obispo, CA nivenfamilywines.com/taste

Reservations required for 8 or more

Salads, sandwiches, soups and waistline-friendly half-orders of pasta are lunchtime mainstays at this chain known for its cozy, French-country decor. But chef Aaron Johns also showcases fresh produce and California ingredients in newer dishes like the Petaluma chicken potpie, served upside-down in a bowl of flaky puff pastry. Happy hour deals are especially sweet, with half-price appetizers (think Maryland crab cakes), $5 well drinks, and glasses of premium wines available for $9 to $12 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Or take advantage of the free corkage and half-off pricing on all bottles during Wine Down Wednesdays from 4 p.m.

NEW OJAI BOWLS 11492 N. Ventura Ave. Ojai, 805-633-9044 ojaibowls.org Californian-Asian; Entrées $9–$15

An Ojai Valley shopping center anchored by a Rite Aid is the setting for this casual, order-at-the-counter restaurant specializing in customizable poke and ramen bowls, plus what co-owners Don Hull and Doug Hernandez call “crafted bowls.” The latter include the vegan Golden Flower Bowl, named for its pairing of turmeric-dusted cauliflower, beet chips, and quinoa, and the Braised Beef Bowl, made with local Watkins Cattle Co. beef, brown rice, and crispy leeks. Hull, a sommelier, oversees the list of wines served by the glass and local beers and kombuchas on tap. Hernandez lets his imagination—and his sweet tooth—run free in desserts like banana spring rolls with vegan coconut ice cream and a Kona pie that involves a chocolate-cookie crust, macadamia nut– vanilla ice cream, and oodles of hot fudge. DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

117

The Dining Guide POOKIE’S THAI CUISINE 900 Hampshire Road Westlake Village, 805-381-0094 Thai; Entrées $7–$13

Kid-Friendly Downstairs in the Water Court Plaza office complex, owner Pookie creates delicious Thai dishes for lunch and dinner daily. Lunch specials are a steal at $7 to $8 each. She also has a wide selection of interesting salads like the Outrageous Beef Salad with a spicy lime dressing and the protein-rich Yam Yai salad with shrimp, chicken, egg, and peanuts in a sweet-andsour dressing. Noodle dishes are generously sized and include the classic pad Thai and the interesting Hi Yo Silver with fried noodles, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Curries, vegetarian options, and fish dishes (such as the crispy sole with tamarind and chili sauce) give diners lots of great choices not found elsewhere.

For a quick holiday getaway, look no further than El Galeon at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (fourseasons.com/ santabarbara). Rumor has it the intimate, wood-paneled space was used as a hidden cocktail and poker lounge during Prohibition, an era that will be recreated with speakeasy-themed events on December 7 and 14 at 7 p.m. (For limited tickets, $60 per person, call 805-565-8311.) Less secretive holiday gatherings at the seaside resort include a Teddy Bear Tea on December 16, s’mores-making sessions on December 21 and 28, and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus herself on December 22 and 29.

NEW SPENCER MAKENZIE’S FISH CO. 311 Carmen Drive Camarillo, 805-643-3474 and 806 E. Thompson Blvd. Ventura, 805-643-8226 spencermakenzies.com Seafood; Entrées $5–$11

Kid-Friendly Famous for its grilled and tempura-battered fish tacos, this restaurant named for the owners’ two eldest children enjoys a beachy vibe that has made its Ventura location a favorite of locals and visitors alike for more than a decade. (Newly opened in May 2018, the Camarillo site echoes that laid-back feel, despite its shopping-center setting.) Other house specialties include the ahi pocket, an appetizer of mildly sweet tofu stuffed with sushi rice and topped with seared ahi tuna. Grilled fish-and-shrimp burritos are best when eaten “Brooklyn style,” named for kid number three and created by combining house-made Spencer and Sweet Chili Fire sauces. Also featured are Parmesan hard-shell tacos, clam chowder by the cup, bowl, and sourdough bread bowl, and the seared–ahi steak Parker Burger, a shout-out to the family’s youngest child. Local brews are on tap.

118

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

THE STONEHAUS 32039 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 818-483-1152 the-stonehaus.com Mediterranean; Sandwiches & Platters $10–$17

Dog-Friendly, Great Views, Kid‑Friendly, Romantic Patterned after an Italian enoteca, the aptly named Stonehaus starts each day as a coffeehouse, serving kale-berry smoothies along with baked goods, wraps, and breakfast sandwiches from Lisa Biondi, executive chef at the adjacent Mediterraneo at the Westlake Village Inn. It switches to wine bar mode in the afternoons and evenings, when the menu includes charcuterie and crostini platters, salads, panini, and desserts. The outdoor pizza oven is fired up nightly (check website for hours). Wine flights are arranged by regions, varietals, and themes. Patios overlook the waterfall and the working vineyard, which is open for picnicking on Stonehaus fare (check website for information about seasonal tastings and festivals). The picnic tables and bocce ball court are family friendly, and visiting canines get a water fountain of their own near the courtyard fireplace.

poke bowls and chef-curated Latin American ceviche. Seoul Sausage Kitchen, the season-three winner of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race, offers an updated take on Korean barbecue. The craft-beer bar Bottle & Pint serves local brews and ciders on tap and by the bottle and can; wines are available by the glass. Fun artwork, inventive communal seating areas, and two retail shops add to the vibe.

BOGIES BAR & LOUNGE 32001 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 818-889-2394 bogies-bar.com Spanish-California Small Plates & Entrées $4–$15

Look to these eateries for festive food, an upbeat atmosphere, and a good time.

Great Views, Live Music Surrounded by greenery and water, this bar on the grounds of the Westlake Village Inn is a gorgeous place to get your groove on: Live music and/or club nights are scheduled nearly every night of the week. On the patio, wicker chaise lounges are arranged in semiprivate groupings around fire pits and a bar counter looks onto the dance floor through roll-up doors. Inside, bronze curtains and silver wall sconces shimmer in the mood-setting darkness. (Some areas are available by reservation.) It all adds up to a great backdrop for a menu that includes happy hour specials like $3 draft beers, $5 glasses of wine, and dinner-and-drink duos ($10–$14) on Mondays through Fridays from 5 pm. to 7 p.m. Spanish influences are evident in dishes like paella and crispy patatas bravas with Fresno chilies and garlic aioli.

ANDRIA’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET 1449 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, 805-654-0546 andriasseafood.com Seafood; Entrées $8–$24

CAFÉ HABANA 3939 Cross Creek Road Malibu, 310-317-0300 cafehabana.com Pan-Latin; Entrées $9–$25

Fun, Fun, Fun

Kid-Friendly No visit to Ventura Harbor—or to Ventura, period— is complete without a stop at Andria’s, a locals’ favorite since 1982. On weekends, the fast-moving line to order can stretch out onto the restaurant’s front patio. Additional seating includes indoor dining rooms decorated with vintage photos and fishing gear, and a protected patio with a view of the docks. Charbroiled fresh catch of the day dinners come with rice pilaf, bread, and a choice of salads. Some items are available in stir-fry dishes. But deep-fried is the preferred method of preparation for everything from onion rings (served in a towering stack) to halibut and chips, oysters and chips, popcorn shrimp and chips, and, well, you get the idea. The atmosphere is beach casual: Orders are called out by number when ready, and it’s up to diners to gather utensils, tartar sauce, and other fixin’s from a counter near the kitchen. Beer and wine are available. An on-site fish market is open daily.

UPDATE THE ANNEX 550 Collection Blvd. Oxnard, 805-278-9500 thecollectionrp.com/the_annex Cuisines and prices vary by location

Kid-Friendly Eight restaurants offer as many dining experiences at this public market-style spot in the heart of The Collection at RiverPark. House-roasted coffee, avocado toast, and gluten-free muffins help jumpstart the day at Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, while The Blend Superfood Bar serves smoothies, juices, and acai bowls made with local berries and honey. Scratch Sandwich Counter covers lunch and dinner with a menu that includes The Sabbich, a vegetarian combination of grilled eggplant, black bean hummus, and a fried egg in soft pita bread. (Baked-on-thepremises treats include cookies and decadent cakes by the slice.) Other order-at-the-counter options include Love Pho, Taqueria el Tapatio, and PokeCeviche, specializing in build-your-own Hawaiian

Sunday Brunch Café Habana isn’t limited to Cuban food or cocktails. Dishes represent all of Latin culture, from South American ceviches to Mexican grilled corn and huevos rancheros to Cuban pulled-pork sandwiches. Owner Sean Meenan is an eco-warrior while partner Rande Gerber brings in the celebs and keeps the nightlife hopping. The food is good, the cocktails are great, and the coconut flan is out of this world.

THE CAVE AT VENTURA WINE COMPANY 4435 McGrath St., Suites 301-303 Ventura, 805-642-9449 venturawineco.com International; Small Plates $3–$18; Salads and Sandwiches $7–$11

Saturday Brunch Patrons at The Cave conduct their own tastings via Enomatic machines, which dispense 1-, 3- and 5-ounce pours at the push of a button. Executive chef Alex Montoya’s creative, wine-friendly menu of shareable small plates changes on the first Tuesday of each month. Look for combinations like prosciuttowrapped pork chops with apricot-cashew stuffing and Arctic char with sinigang broth and tomato concasse, plus an assortment of pizzas, burgers, and desserts. (Save room for one of Montoya’s award-winning frozen custards.) For the best acoustics, nab a table in the Barrel Room decorated with dozens of glass balls hanging from the ceiling. It’s also available for private events.

THE COPA CUBANA 1575 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 103 Ventura, 805-642-9463 805copa.com Cuban; Entrées $12–$18

Great Views, Live Music This lively spot in Ventura Harbor Village may inspire you to book a flight to Cuba. Owner Andres Fernandez runs it and the neighboring 805 Bar &

As it prepares for its 10th anniversary next year, Root 246 (root246.com) in Solvang is in the pink, as in chef de cuisine Crystal DeLongpré, better known as Chef Pink. After joining the restaurant in late 2017, she is flexing her culinary muscles with a new fall-towinter menu that’s all hers. Selections include organic chicken pâté with IPA vinegar, oak-grilled Santa Barbara halibut, and a bacon-aioli Wagyu burger sourced from Temple Grandin–approved Creekstone Farms in Kansas. Up next: the launch of a new craft-cocktail bar program under celebrity mixologist Mia Mastroianni, a friend of Chef Pink’s from their time on the Spike TV show Bar Rescue. Grilled Cheese out of the same kitchen (the two eateries share a phone number), but the Copa Cubana maintains its identity with a separate menu that includes a classic Cubano sandwich, the hashlike picadillo topped with fried eggs, and lechón asado, which is roasted pork served with black beans and yucca marinated in garlic. The dog-friendly patio, with views of nearby boat docks, is an especially fine place to sip a piña colada on a lazy afternoon. Live entertainment is scheduled most days, with an emphasis on Latin jazz.

DUKE’S MALIBU 21150 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, 310-317-0777 dukesmalibu.com Seafood; Entrées $14–$45

Great Views, Sunday Brunch Gorgeous ocean views are maximized in the dining rooms and bars of this large, Hawaiian-themed seafood and steak house, which in summer 2016 marked its 20th anniversary with updates to the decor and menu. Swinging chairs and a life-size bronze statue of surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku greet diners before they step through the front doors and into an interior filled with wood screens, glass mosaic tiles, and chairs sporting surfboard stripes. New dishes presented by chef Eric BosRau showcase regional ingredients in beautiful platings. Fresh fish is available in a variety of preparations, including Parmesan-herb crusted with lemon, capers, and macadamia nuts. Longtime Duke’s fans, take note: Your favorite coconut shrimp dish is back as coconut shrimp croquettes. Kimo’s Original Hula Pie remains as advertised. A Sunday brunch buffet is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Barefoot Bar for breakfast items (think loco moco and banana and macadamia nut pancakes) from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Poké tacos, fish and chips, and pulled-pork sandwiches are served daily.

NEW FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO. 1462 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande, 805-474-8525 and 45 Industrial Way Buellton, 805-694-2252, ext. 110 and 2363 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, 805-694-2252, ext. 343 and 137 Anacapa St., Suite F, Santa Barbara, 805-694-2252, ext. 344 and 30770 Russell Ranch Road, Suites E and F, Westlake Village, 818-874-1305 figmtnbrew.com New American; Entrées $8–$34, depending on location

Founded in Buellton in 2010, this family-owned craft brewery now has brewhouses and taprooms throughout the 805. Each offers a unique, local-flavor lineup of beers, with individual menus to match. The overall theme is gastropub, with beer-friendly fare such as burgers and pretzels available at locations that include on-site kitchens. In Arroyo Grande, guests will find Avila Fish Tacos and a turkey, bacon,

and avocado sandwich dubbed The Dunes. The flagship Buellton site adds Animal Fries topped with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and Thousand Island dressing to the mix, while Westlake Village serves flatbreads and, after 5 p.m., entrées such as grilled salmon and rib eye. Taprooms in Los Olivos and Santa Barbara offer food service from neighboring restaurants Sides Hardware and Shoes and Lucky Penny, respectively.

FLOUR HOUSE 690 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, 805-544-5282 flourhouseslo.com Italian; Starters $5–$21; Pizzas $15–$20; Pastas $19–$28

With a sleek interior, dynamic menu, and portrait of Sophia Loren, Flour House isn’t just a pizzeria: It’s a love song to Italy. Co-owner and Salerno native Alberto Russo works magic with imported flour and a Stefano Ferrara pizza oven, the gold standard for traditional pizza napolitana. During Meter Mondays, pizzas are available in different sizes depending on the number in your party: a half-meter for four people includes a choice of three tastings ($28), while a full meter serves eight with a choice of six tastings ($50). Don’t miss Russo’s house-made pastas or the weekday-night aperitivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring cocktails such as the classic Negroni and Aperol Spritz as well as beer and wine and appetizers from $4 to $6.

LUCKY PENNY 127 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-284-0358 luckypennysb.com Californian; Entrées $11–$16

Located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, this orderat-the-counter spot ranks as one of the city’s most Instagrammed restaurants. The exterior covered in thousands of shiny copper pennies is a draw, but so is the creative menu of close-up-worthy salads, sandwiches, small plates, and wood-fired pizzas. The latter includes such local-place-named favorites as the Milpas, topped with fingerling potatoes, chorizo, and a sunny-side-up egg. Salads are big enough to turn into a meal or to share with a friend who orders pizza. Seating is on a pet-friendly patio adjacent to The Lark restaurant. Coffee is served, along with beer, wine, cider, and a life-giving frosé accented with local strawberries and tarragon.

OLIO PIZZERIA 11 W. Victoria St., Suite 21 Santa Barbara, 805-899-2699 oliocucina.com Italian; Small and Shared Plates $5–$19; Entrées $15–$21

This combination Italian pizzeria and enoteca is brought to you by the owners of Olio e Limone Ristorante, the more formal eatery located next door. The Victoria Court setting includes a long bar with a peekaboo view of the pizza oven, plus small tables. Menu offerings include chicken, fish, and beef entrées, as well as pasta, antipasti, salads, cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, and house-made dolci. The pizzas, with thin, chewy crusts, are individually sized and topped with excellent ingredients—sautéed rapini, spicy salami, cremini mushrooms, and black truffles among them. Lunch or brunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the dinner menu is available daily from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Wines from California and Italy are available by the glass, carafe, half liter, and bottle.

PLATA TAQUERIA & CANTINA 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 10 Agoura Hills, 818-735-9982 plataagoura.com Mexican; Entrées $14–$26

A brewpub with a Belgian accent, Ladyface delivers top-notch beers from brewmaster David Griffiths and an elegant menu that includes moules frites (mussels and fries), ale-brined chicken, and chocolate porter cake. Ale-pairing suggestions are printed on the menu. A communal table lends to the convivial atmosphere as do the beer floats made with local ice cream. Growlers (reusable half-gallon glass jugs) filled with Ladyface ales are available for takeout.

Plata means “silver” in Spanish—and a good time in the Whizin Market Square. The menu at this taqueria is homey but elevated: House-made tortillas and mix-andmatch trios of soft tacos are featured, the latter with a choice of veggies or eight types of protein, including ahi tuna and short ribs. Spa Nachos are made with roasted cauliflower and crispy kale; guacamole is available in three variations, including tradicional and ranchero, made with bacon and roasted pumpkin seeds. Other standouts include chamorro de cordero, a chilemarinated lamb shank served with spinach tamales, and pollo con Elvia’s mole, named for chef Elvia Saldivar, who is co-owner with her husband. Nearly a dozen specialty margaritas star on the cocktails list. Pull up a colorfully upholstered stool at the copper-topped bar to enjoy $7 margaritas and other drink and food specials during daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

LOS OLIVOS WINE MERCHANT & CAFÉ 2879 Grand Ave. Los Olivos, 805-688-7265 losolivoscafe.com Wine Country; Entrées $12–$29

TAVERNA TONY 23410 Civic Center Way Malibu, 310-317-9667 tavernatony.com Greek; Entrées $13–$37

LADYFACE ALEHOUSE & BRASSERIE 29281 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, 818-477-4566 ladyfaceale.com French, Belgian, and American; Entrées $8–$17

This retail wine shop adjoins an all-day café with seating indoors by the stone fireplace and outside on the wisteria-covered patio. Cheese plates and olives are small bites perfect for pairing with wines at the bar. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and pizza comprise the lunch menu. At night choices get a little fancier with pot roast, lamb shank, pasta, chicken, steak, and fresh fish. The wine selection from the shop (available to diners) has more than 400 labels and specializes in picks from California’s Central Coast. Now that’s fun.

This huge space at the northeast corner of the Malibu Country Mart is almost never closed and never empty. There’s always fun to be had: If the classical guitarists aren’t playing, the waiters might be singing, or the owner, Tony Koursaris, might be telling stories at one of the tables. Every meal starts with Greek-style country bread and house-made dip. The roast baby lamb is a specialty of the house for good reasons: The meat is garlicky and mostly tender with some crispy bites. The accompanying potatoes are roasted with lemon juice and the carrots are cooked with dill. Greek coffee is a perfect end here.  DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

119

P.S. Sketchpad By Greg Clarke

120

DECEMBER 2018 / 805LIVING.COM