805 Living Jan/Feb 2018 by 805 Living

JA N UA RY/F E BRUA RY 2018

NEW YEAR FRESH START

BHHSCALHOMES.COM THOUSAND OAKS

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

CHANNEL ISLANDS

CAMARILLO

MOORPARK

©2017 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

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

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 Van Huisen, Carla Padour

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

Year in Review

170% Increase in Sales Volume

2016 SALES VOLUME

2017 SALES VOLUME

With top agents and the best technology, we deliver extraordinary client experiences to everyone looking for their place in the world. Visit compass.com.

We grew a lot in Southern California.

$3B In Sales Volume with a 170% increase from 2016

163% Increase in Units Sold Southern California Offices Beverly Hills Brentwood Calabasas Long Beach Malibu Montecito Newport Beach Pasadena Santa Barbara Silicon Beach Westlake Village Many more coming soon

138% Increase in Number of Agents

GREAT TIMES , AWARD WINNING WINE S ! Tastings | Tours | Lunch | Weddings | Distillery | Inn With nearly 300 acres of grapes on both the east and west sides of Paso Robles, Opolo Vineyards enjoys a wide range in climate, soil and growing potential which allows Opolo to produce 20 different critically acclaimed varietals.

2015 Mountain Zinfandel, 92 pts Wine Enthusiast 2014 Reserve Rhapsody, 90 pts Wine Advocate 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, 91+ pts Wine Advocate 92 pts Wine Enthusiast

Vintage Grocers, your store for quality food, personal service and community.

Experience our exceptional offerings. Pressed juices and nutrition-packed smoothies, made to order. GroundWorks organic coffee, freshly brewed all day long. Thoughtfully sourced meat, fish, poultry and eggs. Custom bouquets, centerpieces, and gift baskets for any occasion. Concierge services, catering, home delivery, and house accounts.

VintageGrocers.com

Workshops, classes, tastings, and events that build community.

Call our brand brand ambassador ambassadorand andfoodie foodieextraordinaire extraordinaire Callfor for aa personal personal tour tour with with Melissa, Melissa, our @ marpino.vintagegrocers.com || (805) mdarpino@vintagegrocers.com (805) 230-0010 230-0010 x376 x326 140 Promenade Way, Westlake Village (805) 230-0010 | 30745 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu (310) 457-2828

SANTA Y

Z NE

VAL

W Y NE S LE

BEST OF THE VALLEY

BEST OF THE VALLEY 2017 SINCE 1925

2017 Bank of the Year - Western Independent Bankers A Top Mortgage Lender 2017, Santa Barbara Independent

Personal. Business. Nonprofit. Wealth.

montecito.bank

Contents

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 • N E W Y E A R , F R E S H S TA R T

SPECIAL: 805 LIVING WEDDINGS RESOURCE GUIDE 2018

Making Moments That Become Memories Create a one-of-a-kind wedding or other special event with the help of these local experts. Photographs by Elizabeth Messina

FEATURES 64

Getting quality sack time can be a lot tougher than just closing your eyes. By Anthony Head

Thinking Big

Bringing together new ideas under the high-desert sky. By Joan Tapper

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

ALEX NYE/ALEX NYE ART; COVER: © KAYLA SNELL/STOCKSY UNITED

In Search of a Good Night

THE DAY-DATE 40 The international symbol of performance and success, reinterpreted with a modernized design and a new-generation mechanical movement. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.

OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE 40 IN PLATINUM

rolex

oyster perpetual and day-date are ® trademarks.

Contents

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 • N E W Y E A R , F R E S H S TA R T

56 40 DEPARTMENTS 31 Tracking the Beat of the 805

Finds

35 It’s a Sign Stargazing accessories for every constellation of the zodiac.

Faces in the Crowd 56 Joey Blake

This Moorpark registered dietitian helps keep Los Angeles Rams players at their peak.

92 SPIRITS: A Cordial Welcome Explore the heartwarming liqueurs of California’s Central Coast.

97 Dining Guide

P.S. Sketchpad

112 Uncertified

By David Gadd

Trainers of the 805

94 DINING OUT:

By Greg Clarke

In Every Issue

59 Make a Splash

A New Food Hangout The latest addition to The Collection at RiverPark, The Annex public market brings a fresh crop of eating experiences to Oxnard.

40 Travel

By Frances Ryan

By Erin Rottman

By Victoria Woodard Harvey Photographs by Gary Moss

Good Deeds

By Jennie Nunn

38 Oh You Pretty Things! Look crush worthy on Valentine’s Day.

By Frances Ryan

Insider By Heidi Dvorak

46 48 51 53 53

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

Mind Body Soul 54 Snooze Clues

Are you one or more z’s short of a good night’s sleep? If so, consider these alternatives. By Linda Kossoff

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

By Nancy Ransohoff Photograph by Gary Moss

Upgrades

A bold blue-and-white scheme transforms a master bath into a modern spa-like destination.

18 Editor’s Note 22 Masthead 26 Behind the Scenes

62 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley and Community Environmental Council By Mark Langton Photographs by Mark Langton and Sarita Relis

Visit Us Online!

88 FOOD: Turn Over a New Leaf

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.

By Jaime Lewis

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.

Taste

Three new cookbooks from local chefs pump up the flavor in healthful veggie dishes. Sample their fresh takes on salad with these recipes.

56: GARY MOSS; 40: COURTESY OF 1440 MULTIVERSITY

Pulse

Penthouse Suite

Celebrity Flora. Evolution meets revolution. SM

Exploring the Galapagos Islands, spring 2019.

Introducing Celebrity Flora, the ﬁrst ship designed and built speciﬁcally with the Galapagos in mind. Every space, including the all-suites accommodations, features our innovative outward-facing stateroom concept, getting you closer to the destination than ever before. With every state-of-the-art technology, innovative materials and design—Celebrity Flora is one of the most eco-friendly and environmentally conscious ships sailing the Galapagos today. Bookings now open. Availability limited. 1-800-CELEBRITY | celebrity.com | Call your travel agent

All images of Celebrity Florasm are artistic renderings based on current development concepts, which are subject to change without notice. Celebrity Flora and Flora are trademarks of Celebrity Cruises.©2017 Celebrity Cruises. Ships' registry: Malta and Ecuador.

You’re among friends at the sofa guY where inspiration becomes realit Y. Holly Trent and her husband Paul (aka “The Sofa Guy”) in their Thousand Oaks interior design and furniture showroom.

Choose a comfy seat. Put your feet up.

Make yourself at home. That’s how easy it is to shop for furniture at The Sofa Guy in Thousand Oaks. “We’re all about hospitality,” says owner Paul Trent. “You get a neighborly feeling here. It’s comfortable, and we pride ourselves on our authenticity.” What you also get is a full-service showroom with fulltime design professionals on hand to assist you with fabric choices, colors, custom designs, room arrangement, space concerns, and accessorizing, whether you’re looking for a chair, eclectic pieces for a living room, or furnishing an entire estate. The Sofa Guy bridges the gap between a design studio and a furniture store. “As a fashion-forward firm, we understand that not everyone wants the same design elements,” says Trent. “We are ahead of the curve as opposed to following the herd.” The Sofa Guy experience is about meeting each client’s needs. You can bring in your own designer, choose someone on staff for assistance, forge ahead on your own, or just ask for

help here and there. It’s a family-owned business that treats you like family. Only here, you’re the boss. And they even make house calls. There’s no lack of high-end choices at The Sofa Guy. The 3,400-square-foot showroom offers more than 200 sofa styles representing custom work from The Sofa Guy Collection, Rene Cazares, and Bradington Young as well as furniture, rugs, accessories, and lighting from Palecek, Global Views, Arteriors, John-Richard, Lisa Taylor, Eastern Accents, and Jaipur Rugs, to name a few, plus thousands of couture fabrics from well-known lines such as Ralph Lauren, Schumacher, Robert Allen, Duralee, and Kravet. The best part, however, is that when all is done and the collaborative efforts have become a reality, The Sofa Guy team is still working for you in terms of answering design questions, giving additional advice, or getting ready to assist you on your next project. “We do the right thing,” says Trent. “We live by the Golden Rule, we do unto others.”

2520 E . Thousand oaks Blvd., Thousand oaks, Ca 91362 | ThEsofaguy.Com | 805 -497-32 2 2

Photo: Hector Perez

Make You r s e l f at HoM e

Barry Garapedian

Seth Haye

Top 400 Advisors in America

Forbes Top Next-Gen Advisor

—Financial Times

(#2 in CA and #16 in USA)

FRONT, LEFT: Seth Haye: Executive Director, Financial Advisor; Barry Garapedian:

Top 40 Under 40

Managing Director–Wealth Management, Financial Advisor; Gregory Givvin: Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; BACK, LEFT: Anna Quirino-Miranda: Client Service Associate; Carlos Garcia, Financial Advisor; Elisa Decker: Assistant Vice President, Relationship Manager; Stephanie Hartmire: Senior Registered Service Associate; Clint Spivey: Relationship Manager; Lanelle Morin: Client Service Associate

—On Wall Street

The Oaks Group at Morgan Stanley | 805-494-0215

The Financial Times Top 400 Financial Advisors is an independent listing produced annually by the Financial Times (March, 2017). The FT 400 is based on data gathered from advisors, broker-dealer home offices, regulatory disclosures and the FT's research. The listing reflects each advisor's status in six primary areas: assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, experience and online accessibility. The award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. 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 The Financial Times in exchange for the rating. Source: Forbes Magazine (July, 2017). Data provided by SHOOK TM Research, LLC. Data as of 3/31/17. 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# 1913332

10/17

Enjoy Living Well

ON THE RIVER with AmaWaterways

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

or every traveler who is looking forward to relaxing on their luxurious river cruise—AmaWaterways knows there are others wanting to keep their fitness routines going, even while traveling. Whether you are looking to relax with a soothing onboard massage or seeking to get invigorated with a guided bike ride on some of Europe’s most breathtaking river paths, you’ll have everything needed to nourish your mind, body and soul, no matter how you wish. Morning yoga on the sun deck

AmaWaterways' Executive Vice President & Co-Owner, Kristin Karst

Kristin’s Corner For Kristin Karst, maintaining her wellbeing while traveling is very important, and she knows it’s equally important to many of AmaWaterways’ guests. Like many people, she also looks for fun ways to burn off those extra vacation calories, especially since there are so many indulgent food and wine choices on board. That’s why AmaWaterways has expanded its Wellness Program, offering guests more ways to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing while traveling.

Ready, Set, Get Active

Dining Along the Rivers

Cycling through the French and Austrian countryside or hiking up to fortified castles for stunning views in magnificent cities like Prague and Budapest offers you a chance to experience a destination from a different perspective and gives your usual fitness routines an extra boost. Imagine cycling through Germany’s Moselle River Valley with its lush green landscape of vineyard-covered hills or hiking around one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, Belogradchik Fortress. And for those who prefer a more Zen approach to wellness, yoga on the sun deck with transcending scenery and refreshing breezes provides the perfect way to start the day.

For those who would like a meal rich in flavor, but not rich in calories, AmaWaterways incorporates healthy food options into breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bountiful breakfasts include omelets madeto-order using cage-free eggs; lunch tempts with an array of salads from locally sourced seasonal ingredients; and dinner offers a range of delicious entrées, including fresh fish and sustainably raised meat. Flavorful vegetarian and gluten-free choices are equally enticing. Whether enjoying a hearty goulash or opting for a lighter vegetarian meal, guests will have a wide variety of delicious selections to entice every palette.

Cool Off or Sweat It Out

Living Well Onboard the Highest-rated Ships

The ship has its own refreshing pool (with a swim-up bar), sun-deck jogging track and fitness center with cardio equipment and weights to help maintain overall fitness goals in between hiking the hills along the Rhine and cycling through Antwerp’s architectural gems. You’ll also be treated to a variety of exercise classes, which include cardio and core strengthening led by a professionally trained Wellness Instructor. Should you need a little extra energy, enjoy breakfast vitamin shots and an onboard hydration station with infused detox and gemstone water.

Set sail on board Europe’s highest-rated ships as evaluated by the premier travel authority, Berlitz, and the “Overall Best River Cruise Line” and “Best River Cruise Line for Active Cruisers,” chosen by the esteemed Editors of Cruise Critic, and be treated to an all-around amazing experience. For more information, contact your Travel Agent, call our river cruise specialists at (888) 626-1439 or visit www.AmaWaterways.com

LEADING THE WAY IN RIVER CRUISING

Pictured left: AmaLyra on the Seine River, Northern France

Proudly located in Calabasas

Editor’s Note

805 Strong “What lies behind us and what lies before us

are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” —Henry Stanley Haskins

WHAT LIES WITHIN US BECAME ABUNDANTLY EVIDENT AS THE THOMAS FIRE RAVAGED THROUGH VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES LAST MONTH AND TURNED EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN. The strength of the fire was met head-on by the collective strength of our first responders, firefighters, community agencies, volunteers, neighbors, and local businesses that united together and reacted with courage and speed to protect those in harm’s way and help us recover from the destruction. The scars left by the Thomas Fire—at press time the second largest fire in California history—have the potential to run deep, but the spirit of our 805 communities has prevailed. It has been awe inspiring and heartwarming to witness the power of “us.” So onward we go. Our “New Year, Fresh Start” cover line embodies a mind-set of moving forward that we can all embrace. Now more than ever, I encourage you to support our local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Your patronage and generosity can go a long way to help rebuild what was lost. Together, we are 805 strong. Here’s to helping others in the new year.

Lynne Andujar Editor in Chief & Publisher

GARY MOSS

edit@805living.com

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

We’re here for you so you can focus on what matters most

W E L L S FA R G O P R I VAT E B A N K Wealth Planning Investments Private Banking Trust Services Insurance

At Wells Fargo Private Bank, we understand that your commitments to your family and community are some of your most important responsibilities. We offer a dedicated team of local professionals who take the time to understand your unique needs so you can focus your time and energy into what’s most important—when it’s most important. Contact us to learn more about our wealth management solutions and how we can help support your vision. To start a new kind of conversation, contact your local Wells Fargo Private Bank office: Wells Fargo Wealth Management 2829 Townsgate Rd., Ste. 215, Westlake Village, CA 91361 805-777-8375

Wells Fargo Wealth Management 118 E. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-564-2876

wellsfargoprivatebank.com Wells Fargo Private Bank provides products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the banking affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company, and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo & Company. Insurance products are available through insurance subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company and are underwritten by non-affiliated Insurance Companies. Not available in all states. © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Member FDIC. NMLSR ID 399801 IHA-4771603

local

and

experienced

We’ve got the

805 covered YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL LENDERS, GIVE US A CALL!

MONTECITO BRANCH

OXNARD BRANCH

805-259-1316

805-205-8202

1165 COAST VILLAGE RD, #A, MONTECITO, CA 93108

300 E. ESPLANADE DR, SUITE #1780, OXNARD, CA 93036

ADAM BLACK AREA SALES MANAGER NMLS #266041

TODD KING BRANCH MANAGER NMLS #448141

VERONICA GONZALEZ SR. LOAN CONSULTANT NMLS #453583

KRISTI BOZZO SR. LOAN CONSULTANT NMLS #447941

TONY DE LA TORRE LOAN CONSULTANT NMLS #309703

BLAINE PARKER LOAN CONSULTANT NMLS #460058

BROMI KROCK SR. LOAN CONSULTANT NMLS #254423

Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS ID#6606. © New American Funding. New American and New American Funding are registered trademarks of Broker Solutions Inc. dba New American Funding. All Rights Reserved. Corporate Office is located at 14511 Myford Road, Suite 100, Tustin CA 92780. Phone (800) 450-2010. 7/2017

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 (Fashion, Interior Design) CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Jaime Lewis CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ryan Brown, David Gadd, Victoria Woodard Harvey, Linda Kossoff, Nancy Ransohoff, Joan Tapper CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

Greg Clarke RESEARCH EDITORS

Gaylen Ducker Grody, Tajinder Rehal CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elizabeth Messina, Gary Moss CONSULTING EDITOR

interior design

home furnishings

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

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.

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Please recycle this magazine when you are finished.

805 LIVING, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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

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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, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Kevin Fitzgerald 2012

Joanne Nelson 2000

Isabelle Muller-Gupta 2011

Renee Rosen 2003

Spectacular, Remodeled Home in Deer Ridge 1109 Antelope Place, Thousand Oaks Look no further! Spectacular, remodeled home in Deer Ridge. This home has all the upgrades and “bells and whistles” that one can only imagine! Some features include: stone and wood floors throughout, whole house management system and 13kW solar system that is owned. The rear yard is BEYOND an entertainer’s paradise with Pebble Tec pool & spa, automated fire pit, spacious, covered patio areas for entertaining, a lighted sport court, viewing deck, RV parking and a bike path to the open space!

Offered at $1,200,000 - www.1109Antelope.com

Sigi & Pam

| 818.879.2999

Luxury CollectionSM Specialists sigiandpam@sigiandpam.com www.sigiandpam.com Sigi CalBRE # 00589771 / Pam CalBRE # 00669728

Behind the Scenes

Taking care of your emotional well-being is as important as getting in your 10,000 steps. Take a tip or two from our featured contributors on how to develop clarity of mind and a positive outlook. Erin Rottman “Every year I prioritize time for a girls’ trip with friends from college,” says travel editor Erin Rottman (Finds/ Travel, page 40). “It helps me reconnect with some of the most important people in my life, reminds me how important it is to do something for myself, and allows me to return to my daily routine with a clear mind.”

Elizabeth Messina “As an artist and a busy working mother, I tend to be quite sensitive and often carry too much stress,” says contributing photographer Elizabeth Messina (“Making Moments That Become Memories,” page 77). “Yoga helps me stay grounded and is a positive addition to my overall emotional well-being.”

“Getting a good night’s sleep is the best medicine for an awful lot of things, including my emotional health,” says consulting editor Anthony Head (“In Search of a Good Night,” page 64). “This means I have to keep using my CPAP machine, no matter how awkward it looks and feels, night after night after night.”

MESSINA: KIRSTEN ELLIS

Anthony Head

Behind the Scenes

Here’s how our featured experts improve their mental health. “I find volunteering at my daughter’s school to be a wonderfully gratifying and fulfilling experience.” —Sandra Cordero

(Dining Out, page 94) owner and chef of Gasolina and Pancake, both in Oxnard, and Gasolina Café in Woodland Hills

“I tend to retreat to something creative, like playing some music or a hands-on project.” —Phil Jankoski

“I find something to actively look forward to every day; health and happiness are bedfellows.” —Autumn Fanning

(Pulse, page 31) CEO of Vet’s Here mobile veterinary service Santa Ynez and Conejo Valley

“I walk early every morning to enjoy a peaceful start to the day.” —Pascale Beale

(Taste/Food, page 88) cookbook author and owner of the online culinary boutique Pascale’s Kitchen Santa Barbara

CORDERO: KRISTIN MANSKY; JANKOSKI: BEN GUZMAN; FANNING: DOUG ELLIS/DOUG ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY

(“Thinking Big,” page 70) founding executive director Blue Sky Center, New Cuyama

NEW HOMES NOW SELLING

Idyllic Living the Enchanted Way... Lonestar Estates, Thousand Oaks

• Seven, semi-custom homes • Ready to occupy by February 2018 • All homes boast 270° views • 5 bedroom, 4.5 - 5.5 bath

3,889 sq. ft. to 5,828 sq. ft. • Single and two-story floor plans

from $1,570,000

For more information contact: Anat Yifrah 818-266-9195 or hydam786@yahoo.com HYDAM REALTY INC., BRE LIC. #02018247 Mohammed B Esa, AIA, Broker 805-498-7786

311 HAIGH ROAD, SUITE 201, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320 | www.hydamhomes.com | 805-498-7786

Protecting your wealth. It all starts with one meeting. Life is filled with one meeting after another, but this one is important. It’s about your future, and what you can do to prepare for it. My name is Jeff Antoniotti, and I’m a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor with more than 23 years of experience. Meet with me, and I’ll sort out your financial goals to create a wealth plan that helps you manage your assets. Call today to schedule an appointment, and let’s get your future started.

JOB INFORMATION

Jeff D. Antoniotti Financial Planning Specialist Senior Investment Management Consultant Senior Vice President Financial Advisor 100 N. Westlake Blvd., Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91362 805-494-0200 jeff.d.antoniotti@morganstanley.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/antoniotti

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SPECIFICATIONS

NOTES

FAS010

CS 9086515 11/17

Pulse

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

MOBILE VET, HAPPY PET

Revolutionizing the pet care experience, mobile veterinary service Vet’s Here! (vetshere.com) uses its specially equipped vehicle to bring nearly all the facilities of a stationary animal clinic directly to clients’ homes. Providing comfort for pets and convenience for their owners, Vet’s Here! offers an impressive repertoire of services, such as surgery, X-rays, dental procedures, and euthanasia. Owner Autumn Fanning, DVM, says seeing an animal in its living

environment is both engaging and helpful for diagnosing illnesses. She has, for example, identified lead poisoning in an animal based on her observations during a home visit. “What I’m really passionate about is making the veterinary experience better and evolving it into what I think owners really want for their animals,” says Fanning. In her practice, there are no panicked pups scratching up back seats or kittens yowling in their carriers. —Ryan Brown JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Pulse

SOCIAL SOLUTIONS

Do your heart some good at the Solvang Century, Metric, & Half Century (bikescor.com), which is not a race but rather three rides sponsored by SCOR (Specialized Coronary Outpatient Rehabilitation; bikescor.com), a recreational biking club that espouses cycling as a form of rehabilitative therapy after heart attack and other forms of heart disease. Founded in 1974, the club was the idea of cardiopulmonary physical therapist Randy Ice, who needed to keep his patients exercising in a research program to find out why so many men in their 40s had heart attacks. “Riding a bike is more exciting than going to a gym,” says Ice. “It’s outdoors, it’s motivating, it’s social.” For the last 35 years, Solvang has been the ride location of choice. Says Ice, “It’s the perfect place to ride a bike.” —Heidi Dvorak

GOOD DEALS ON GREAT MEALS Yum is the word when Santa Barbara Restaurant Week (sbrestaurantweeks.com) comes to town. Thanks to what event chair Leslee Garafalo calls her “passion for the culinary community,” she and her team rallied behind eateries to create three-course dinner menus priced at $25, $35, and $45 that make it easy for food lovers to experience regional restaurants. Now the hard part: Should dining be dictated by cuisine or chef? Go Italian at Convivo, Spanish style at Loquita, or Cajun and Creole at The Palace Grill. Or dig into the dishes of Jason Paluska at The Lark, Marco Fossati at Bella Vista, or Nat Ely at Toma Restaurant & Bar. Come mid January, the menus can be viewed online, so make those rezzies soon, because from February 23 to March 4 everyone will want a place at the table. 805 Living is the event’s exclusive media partner. —H.D.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

—R.B.

TOP: © RAPIDEYE/ISTOCK.COM; BOTTOM: ARNA BAJRAKTAREVIC/WWW.STUDIOARNA.COM

HEART CYCLE

After suffering a traumatic brain injury, Moorpark resident Candace Coleman was advised not to consume alcohol during her recovery. Dissatisfied with the lack of healthy and imaginative alternatives, she became inspired to renovate the nonalcoholic menu. “I just wanted a healthy drink to socialize with,” says Coleman. Her solution was to create Blüm beverages (blumbeverages.com), drinks steeped with organic botanicals and designed to resemble wine and cocktails at social gatherings. Her soothing Zen blend is infused with lavender, hibiscus, chamomile, and elderflower, and her invigorating Uplift blend contains rose, hibiscus, and yerba mate. Coleman says more selections are on the way. “We want to make one that looks like a white wine,” she says, “and then we have another surprise blend that has some effects that people will enjoy.” Rich in amino acids and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, Blüm’s blends are available on the website as well as in Westlake Village at Stonehaus, Mediterraneo, Bogies, Wades Wines, and Nabu Wines, in Thousand Oaks at Sunland Vintage Winery, and in Moorpark at McGregor’s Craft Beer & Wine. 

May 4-6, 2018 WildflowerExperience.com

BUILD YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AT THE ALL NEW WILDFLOWER! WE’RE RAISING THE BAR ON THE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE WITH NEW EVENTS INCLUDING: • New for 2018: 5k, 10k, Trail Run, Stand-up Paddleboard & Yoga Events! • Don’t Miss our Iconic Off-road & On-road Sprint, Olympic and Long Course Triathlon Distances • More Music & Entertainment • New Luxury “Glamping” Options • Bigger & Better Wildflower Wellness Tent featuring Yoga, Massages, Fitness & Training Clinics Register Today for a Race or Festival Pass @ WildflowerExperience.com

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

It’s a Sign

Stargazing accessories for every constellation of the zodiac. By Jennie Nunn John Derian “Blue Universe” dome paperweight ($60); Upstairs at Pierre LaFond, Montecito, upstairsatpierrelafond.com. JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Finds 1

4 3

1. Astrological jubilee mugs ($25 each; all signs available); A Beautiful Mess Home, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com. 2. “Capricorn” zodiac needlepoint pillow ($98; all signs available); Jonathan Adler at The Village at Topanga, Woodland Hills, jonathanadler.com.

3. Claire Goodchild “Moon & Stars Gemini” art print (from $19); urbanoutfitters.com. 4. Skeem Design “Astronomy” fireplace match bottle ($42); A Beautiful Mess Home, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com. 5. Fringe Studio zodiac ceramic box ($28); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; nordstrom.com. 6. “Star Signs” linen tea towel ($32); A Beautiful Mess Home, Agoura Hills, abeautifulmesshome.com. 7. Rifle Paper Co. 2018 “Constellations” calendar ($16); Paper Source at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, The Village at Topanga, Woodland Hills, and The Commons at Calabasas; paper-source.com. 

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

My Pismo Beach

WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO DO, PISMO BEACH IS YOUR PLACE TO FIND IT Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

miles

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.

Kayaking alongside the beautiful coastline

Picnicking in Edna Valley's wine region

Selecting my perfect bottle of wine at a downtown winery

Finds Style By Frances Ryan

Oh You Pretty Things! Look crush worthy on Valentine’s Day. 3

1 2

1. “Avery” velvet bow pump ($198); J.Crew at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; jcrew.com. 2. Simone Perele “Eden” demiplunge lace bra ($89) and bikini ($45); Les Boudoirs Boutique, Westlake Village, lesboudoirs.com.

3. Pear-shaped natural fancy light orangey-pink diamond (2.25 carats total) earrings set in white diamonds (1.76 carats total) and 18-karat white and rose gold (price upon request); Raiman Rocks, Calabasas, raimanrocks.com. 4. Pavé pinkie ring with purple sapphires set in 18-karat white gold ($6,500); David Yurman at Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, davidyurman.com.

5. Lucy B.’s “Frangipani Pearl Shimmer Oil” ($45 for 60 ml.); Sharon Segal Nina Segal at The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, facebook.com/ sharonsegalninasegalthecloset.

6. A+O X The Beatles “All You Need Is Love” pullover ($440); Alice + Olivia at Malibu Lumber Yard, aliceandolivia.com. 7. Velvet camisole ($245); Vince at The Promenade at Westlake and Malibu Country Mart; vince.com. 8. Slim d’Hèrmes 32 mm watch with diamond-set dial and blackcurrant alligator strap ($8,700); Hèrmes, Beverly Hills, hermes.com.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

9. Chelsea 28 Jagger faux fur clutch ($59); Nordstrom at The Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, and Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park; nordstrom.com. 10. Rose gold “Slinky” bracelet with 10.52 carats of diamonds (price upon request); Silverhorn at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, silverhorn.com.  To view more Valentine’s Day style ideas, visit our Pinterest page, keyword: 805living.

Victoria Silver and Carole Vicens

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Finds Travel By Erin Rottman

VACATION + EDUCATION

oth “relaxed” and “energized” describes the vibe at 1440 Multiversity (1440.org; from $140), a 75-acre campus near Santa Cruz that offers opportunities for personal growth while on vacation. Named after the number of minutes in a day, 1440 offers weekend and five-day workshops (from $80 per day) led by teachers such as psychiatrist and author Daniel Siegel, M.D., Grammy-award winning musician Alanis Morissette, and public radio host Krista Tippett. “People are coming here because they are investing in themselves,” says executive director Jennifer Wallace. “You have a recognition that you matter and that your expression in this world is important,” says Wallace, who is especially excited about an upcoming workshop by life coach Martha Beck.

Tucked in the redwoods, 1440 accommodates a variety of budgets with its private suites as well as its new shared sleeping spaces with privacy screens. There are no TVs in the

rooms, but the environment is not restrictive; cell phones are welcome, Wi-Fi is available, and beer and wine are flowing. Between classroom sessions, guests can take yoga, tai chi,

Wellness-minded vacationers join in a yoga class at 1440 Multiversity.

and qigong classes and enjoy a massage or a soak in a hot tub. Walking trails wind through the property, and the café serves light bites as well as locally made coffee and gelato.

Get a jump-start on those New Year’s resolutions at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (ranchovalencia. com; packages from $3,450), a casita-style Relais & Chateaux property north of San Diego. New three-

day Wellness Collective packages focus on lifestyle skills that can be used at home, says spa and wellness director Kristi Dickinson. Activities include daily private fitness-training sessions, group fitness classes, 90-minute spa treatments, and evening workshops on topics like nutrition, relationships, sleep, and stress. Guests may also meet one-on-one with family and sports medicine physician E. Lee Rice, founder of San Diego’s Lifewellness Institute, to discuss personal goals. The spa at Rancho Valencia embodies a communal atmosphere. “I’ve observed this bonding that wasn’t expected,” Dickinson says. “It’s been a nice byproduct.” The new Rein Poolside Retreat bar at the adults-only pool offers food and cocktails like the Rein Margarita with lime, basil, and cucumber as well as The Hendrick’s Experience with green chile vodka.

Poolside luxury includes private cabanas at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa.

HOT TIP A soak in warm water can reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation to stiff muscles, and ease low back pain,

according to the Arthritis Foundation. Plus, it just feels good. See for yourself with a dip in a hot tub of mineral springs water or the larger Oasis Waterfall Lagoon at Avila Valley’s Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa (sycamoresprings.com; from $199), which offers the Nifty 50 package for visitors age 50 and older on weekdays through February 15. The special covers accommodations and entitles guests to 50 percent off of a second entrée, a second dessert, a second massage, and merchandise such as the resort’s signature bathrobe.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF 1440 MULTIVERSITY; COURESTY OF RANCHO VALENCIA

WELLNESS RESOLUTIONS

Experience the best of SoCal in 0 brake lights, 10 breaching dolphins, and 1 breathtaking journey.

Sink back in your seat and take in the coastline as you travel to popular destinations between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Unwind while staying connected with free Wi-Fi®. Satisfy your cravings with a delicious treat from our Café car. When you take the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®, your getaway begins before you arrive.

©2017 LOSSAN. Fares, schedules and services are subject to change without notice. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.® Amtrak, Surfliner and Pacific Surfliner are registered marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and used with permission.

Finds Travel At the newly renovated Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach light-colored décor plays up views of crystal blue skies and sparkling aqua seas.

KEIKI-FRIENDLY WAIKIKI

A dramatic transformation has just been completed at the modern Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach (alohilaniresort.com; from $229), across the street from the keiki-, or kid-friendly, sandy-bottom Kuhio Beach. The hotel was gutted, except for the lobby’s three-story-high oceanarium, a 280,000-gallon saltwater tank stocked with 1,000

tropical fish. It was decided that the locally beloved icon, which has been part of the hotel since it opened in 1969, simply had to be preserved. The children just stand there and they’re mesmerized,” says sales and marketing director Patsy Narimatsu. The resort has an open, airy feel with high ceilings in the lobby and white and beige furnishings

throughout. Children can enjoy the Monkey Pod Kid’s Club with a bubble jet pool, corn-hole and oversize Jenga games, and movies projected onto an outdoor wall. A fifth-floor saltwater infinity pool overlooks the beach. Restaurants Momosan Waikiki and Morimoto Asia Waikiki feature the cuisine of Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto.

nutrition consultation may not top the average Sin City bucket list, but Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian Las Vegas (venetian.com; from $169) makes wellness seem more appealing than indulgence. The 134,000-square-foot facility has the requisite treatments, fitness centers, and salon, but the presence of on-site exercise physiologists and registered dietitians set it apart. Laura Kruskall, a registered dietitian who has worked at Canyon Ranch for 18 years, conducts consultations ($109–$189) on subjects such as healthful eating, weight loss, diabetes management, and bone health. She begins with a client assessment and food intake review, and then suggests changes based on goals. The take-away is the realization that healthful eating doesn’t have to be expensive and that nutritious meals can

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

be prepared in the same amount of time it takes to get dinner from a fast food drivethrough, says Kruskall, who is also director of nutrition sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “You can be healthy right in Vegas,” Kruskall says, “and still have fun.” 

Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian Las Vegas lends balance to the city’s nonstop action with relaxing and invigorating offerings, such as Experiential Rains showers.

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF ALOHILANI RESORT WAIKIKI BEACH; THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS

VITAL IN VEGAS

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Insider EVENTS IN & AROUND THE 805 By Heidi Dvorak

January 10

January 19

February 18

EZRALOW DANCE COMPANY

HERMAN’S HERMITS STARRING PETER NOONE

CHICAGO

Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, Malibu. Fantasy, wit, darkness, and joy are evoked in the performance of this unconventional dance troupe. Its members seem to defy gravity with their fluid physicality; arts.pepperdine.edu.

1/10

January 17

January 26–28

DANIELLE EUBANK: “GLOBAL ADVENTURE TO CAPTURE MARITIME BEAUTY”

CAMBRIA ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Channel Islands Maritime Museum. An expedition artist and painter discusses her two passions, adventure travel and art, in this Speaker Series lecture. Find out how she’s traveled the world’s oceans in an effort to recreate them on canvas; cimmvc.org.

Cambria locations. Celebrate fine local wines and art in settings of natural beauty. Activities include a kickoff dinner party with wine pairings, a two-day art show and wine tasting, an art auction, and more tastings; cambriaartwine.org.

Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The iconic band from Illinois demonstrates that a talented group of musicians employing a distinct sound— horns coupled with rock and roll—has staying power. See them get the crowd going with hits such as “25 or 6 to 4”; civicartsplaza.com. February 24–26 FEBRUARY WINTERMEZZO: MUSIQUE FRANÇAISE

San Luis Obispo Mission, Park Ballroom, Paso Robles, and Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo. Over three days, learn about 20th-century French composers, watch performances of six musicians, and dine with pertinent musical accompaniment. Festival Mozaic provides the talent and Field to Table catering creates the dinner; festivalmozaic.com.

2 /24–26

Here’s an Idea:

Laughter on high can be heard on the second Saturday night of every month at STANDUP COMEDY ON THE HILL, a live show starring top comedians. Produced and hosted by local funnyman Jason Love, the fun commences at Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. January 13 headliners are Dana Eagle (Last Comic Standing), Graham Elwood (Benson Interruption), and Daniel Eachus (America’s Got Talent). The February 10 show stars Flip Schultz (Comics Unleashed), Al Ducharme (Last Comic Standing), and Matt Donaher (Conan); hillcrestarts.com.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

January 13–February 18

January 20

January 31

SISTER ACT, THE MUSICAL

GUIDED HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR

TEDX LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL

Ojai Valley Museum. Learn about Ojai’s architecture, residents, art, and significant events on a 90-minute stroll with a local historian. Admission to the museum is included; ojaivalleymuseum.org.

Laguna Blanca School, Santa Barbara. Evolve is the theme for this independent studentorganized event licensed by TED. Featuring video and live speakers, it’s an effort to share experiences about the chosen topic on a global level; tedxlagunablancaschool.com.

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. Move over, Rockettes. This kooky comedy features some high-kicking nuns in a story about a disco diva hiding in a convent; simi-arts.org. January 17 AN EVENING WITH PSYCHIC JOHN EDWARD

Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo. Got questions about the dearly departed? He’s got answers. The former host of Crossing Over says he can send messages to those on the other side. Ask Grandma where she hid the money; pacslo.org.

January 27 TONY PACE

February 16–March 11

Oxnard Performing Arts Center. This guy could be 10 top performers rolled into one. The impersonator, comedian, and singer stars in a Vegas-caliber act that the whole family can enjoy; oxnardperformingarts.com.

THE PRODUCERS

San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre. Witness the antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, as they try to make a flop. With music composed by Mel Brooks and a number with little old ladies tapdancing with their walkers, the results are comedy magic; slorep.org. >

FROM TOP: ARABELLA EZRALOW; KATY BARNARD COURTESY OF FESTIVAL MOZAIC

Family Fun

Music director Scott Yoo

The Canyon, Agoura Hills. The toothy heartthrob of the ’60s is still charming everyone with his Manchester accent and catchy songs about finicky kings, an absence of milk, and silhouettes on the shade; wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com.

Should I follow my head or my heart? For some of life’s questions, you’re not alone. Together we can find an answer. If you’re conflicted about investing more now that the economy is strong, you’re not alone. 86% of investors surveyed for UBS Investor Watch* say the crisis still affects how they think about money. How can you overcome this inner struggle? 98% of investors tell us a comprehensive financial plan is the key to confidence in any market. Your UBS Financial Advisor can help.

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*UBS Investor Watch, The Conflicted Investor, 1Q2016 As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers both investment advisory services and brokerage services. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that clients understand the ways in which we conduct business and that they carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer. For more information visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified finanCial PlannerTM in the U.S. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association® in the United States of America and worldwide. © UBS 2017. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. CJ-UBS-2031105114

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Insider

Thank You For A Great 2017! The Kaufman Real Estate Group would like to sincerely thank all our clients for a wonderful, productive year! We could not have done it without you. Real estate is one of the best investments you can make. Meet with us, we would appreciate the opportunity to help with your real estate goals. We represent you here, but can bring you home anywhere.

Hot Ticket

Book your seats now for these upcoming events. JANUARY Through January 28: Christmastime may be over, but there’s no reason to stop experiencing the winter-wonderful fun at the HOLIDAY ICE RINK. So prime those weak ankles for triple axels or just hold onto the railing on this real ice surface. Non-skaters can cheer on the Zamboni; The Lakes at Thousand Oaks; shoplakes.com. Through January 28: Portraits by Latino artists including Carlos Almaraz, Judy Baca, Sergio Hernández, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Sylvia Raz, and Eloy Torrez are on exhibit at DE COLORES ART SHOW: PORTRAITS OF THE PAST. The centerpiece is Miguel Angel González’s Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life); Santa Paula Art Museum, santapaulaartmuseum.org. Through February 1: Curated by representational artist Hernán Miranda, CONVERGENCIA/ CONVERGENCIA is an exhibition of work by contemporary Paraguayans, some of whom now live in other countries. Media include oil, acrylic, charcoal and graphite, and sculptures in bronze and glass; Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture, Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, callutheran.edu.

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Kaufman Real Estate Group 805.870.5710 team@kaufmanregroup.com www.kaufmanrealestategroup.com CalBRE#: 01855802

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January 12: Hells bells. AC/DC fans should get a charge out of HIGH VOLTAGE, a tribute band that performs a range of songs from the Bon Scott era to the Brian Johnson days. Look forward to hearing tunes such as “Back in Black,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and “Whole Lotta Rosie”; Discovery Ventura, discoveryventura.com. January 12–28: Based on the book published in 1995 by Frances Hodgson Burnett, THE LITTLE PRINCESS is a captivating story about a young girl who must attend a fancy London boarding school, away from her beloved father. The story line adheres to the original plot, rather than the plot of the movie version, so be in for a few surprises. The tale deals with cultivating strength while dealing with hardship. This is a youth-performed production that is appropriate for all ages; San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, slorep.org. January 17–18: World-renowned Aussie musician and two-time Grammy nominee TOMMY EMMANUEL shows off his wildly innovative guitar technique, which has to be seen to be believed. His fingers move at lightning speed and his entire body gets into the act in a way that embraces the styles of music he plays: pop, jazz, blues, gospel, boogie-woogie, bluegrass, classical, flamenco, and aboriginal styles; Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, arts. pepperdine.edu.

January 18: With its latest album Hot Thoughts topping the charts, Austin rock ambassadors SPOON surely plan to dish out some of the band’s newest tunes. Britt Daniels and members Jim Eno, Rob Pope, and Alex Fischel have been wowing ’em at top festivals and venues across the country. White Reaper opens; Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, thearlingtontheatre.com. January 25: Spend AN EVENING WITH CONDOLEEZZA RICE as the former secretary of state and national security advisor in the George W. Bush administration talks about her experiences. She is the first black woman to hold these positions and is currently a professor of political science at Stanford University in Palo Alto; Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, thearlingtontheatre.com.

Coming Soon to Santa Barbara!

January 27–28: Conductor Kynan Johns takes the rostrum to lead the New West Symphony in TCHAIKOVSKY’S PATHÉTIQUE, along with Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 1 in D Minor and a world premiere commission by Bruce Broughton. The Lyris Quartet also performs; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and Oxnard Performing Arts Center, newwestsymphony.org. January 28: Far from conventional, PILOBOLUS DANCE THEATER, presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures, is known as an extraordinary company of dance illusionists that mixes humor, invention, and drama in its performances. The group creates message-laden experiences as their bodies seem to defy physical limits; The Granada, Santa Barbara, artsandlectures.ucsb.edu. January 28: Making its Chamber on the Mountain debut is TRIO VALTORNA. The group, composed of David Jolley on French horn, Ida Kavafian on violin, and Gilles Vonsattel on piano, plays a program of classic and contemporary works; Logan House, Ojai, chamberonthemountain.com. January 28–May 13: Examine the museum’s photography holdings at BROUGHT TO LIGHT:

New Gastropub in Westlake Village

30 Craft Beers On Tap!

Signature Burgers & Sandwiches

REVELATORY PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART COLLECTION. Artists

Artisan Flatbread Pizzas

include Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams, Dawoud Bey, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Mike Disfarmer, Harold Edgerton, Barbara Kasten, Yevgeny Khaldei, Inge Morath, Gordon Parks, and Masao Yamamoto; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, sbma.net.

Chef-Crafted Gourmet Salads

FEBRUARY February 1, March 11: St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching so get in the mood early at the last two shows of THE IRISH SERIES, presented by Kerry Irish Productions. On February 1, Irish actor Sheelagh Cullen shares the country’s literature, songs, and music in Heart of an Irish Woman; on March 11, the Kerry Traditional Orchestra, the Kerry Voice Squad, and dancer Connor Reider recreate an authentic Irish celebration in St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza civicartsplaza.com. >

15 Savory Appetizers Hand-Crafted Cocktails Seven HDTV’s for Sports Viewing Locally owned and operated, Finney's is open for lunch and dinner with Monday-Friday Happy Hour specials.

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Insider February 12: At CAMERON CARPENTER FEATURING THE INTERNATIONAL TOURING ORGAN, presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures, the flamboyant Juilliard-trained musician draws in the audience with his personality and performing prowess. Check out his Swarovski-studded shoes; The Granada, Santa Barbara, artsandlectures.ucsb.edu. February 13–March 5: Get a boatload of seaworthy history by exploring the decks of the Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington at a TALL SHIPS tour conducted by the educational and nonprofit Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport organization. These ships offer a variety of 18thcentury maritime experiences. Opt for a battle sail to experience booming cannons and closequarters maneuvers or the adventure or evening sails that demonstrate tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and other nautical amusements. Those without sea legs can opt for a dockside tour; Ventura Harbor Village, historicalseaport.org.

Photos courtesy of Olio e Limone and Kevin Steele / kevsteele.com

February 15–March 4: A witch hunt, whether political, religious, or moral, is as prevalent now as it was decades ago. Witness how playwright Arthur Miller dealt with the subject in THE CRUCIBLE, inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s relentless search for Communists in America in the 1950s and the Salem witch trials of 1692. The story centers on a servant girl who maliciously causes a woman’s arrest for witchcraft and the dilemma her husband faces; Marian Theatre, Santa Maria, pcpa.org.

MARCH March 4: Give a listen to the talents of 22-year old flutist ANTHONY TRIONFO at this Chamber on the Mountain solo concert. He is the 2017 first-prize winner of The Young Concert Artists International Auditions; Logan House, Ojai, chamberonthemountain.com.

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

March 8–25: Siri would love this play. Aside from Sherlock Holmes’ doctor buddy, there are three other Watsons: an engineer who built Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone, a super computer who became a Jeopardy! champ, and a technology nerd looking for love. All four are integral plot points of THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, a play by Madeleine George about technology, mathematics, and emotions or the lack of them; Severson Theatre, Santa Maria, pcpa.org. March 9–11: Got a sick orchid? Take it to orchid doctor Bruce Kidd, who is just one of the many experts on hand to answer questions at the SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW. Discover growing secrets, view rare and

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common varieties at a juried exhibition, learn how to repot, and participate in workshops led by experts and members of the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program; Earl Warren Showgrounds, sborchidshow.com.

Show Your Support Fun and fundraising go handin-hand at these local events. JANUARY January 13: Even those who failed P.E. can enjoy taking part in the SANTA MARIA FITNESS SERIES. Sign up for the Kids Dash (over 3 years of age), a 5K, a 10K, or just have fun at the after-race party. Forty percent of the net proceeds goes to the Santa Maria YMCA; Santa Maria YMCA, runwalkfitness.org. January 26–28: Eighty primo dealers sell home goods, glassware, decorative accessories, vintage pieces, furniture, paintings, jewelry, textiles, garden art, and china at the ANTIQUES, DECORATIVE ARTS AND VINTAGE SHOW & SALE to benefit CALM (Child Abuse Listening

Mediation). This fundraiser benefits the organization’s efforts to prevent and treat victims of child abuse; Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, calmantiqueshows.com.

FEBRUARY February 3: Get in the habit of helping others by competing in the SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME NUN RUN 5K, as well as a one-mile fun run. Top finishers in each age bracket receive awards and overall male and female winners receive additional prizes. Afterward, attend the Community Service Fair. Proceeds support the SND Life & Ministry Fund, which provides spiritual, educational, and social outreach around the world; La Reina High School & Middle School, Thousand Oaks, nun.run. February 9: It’s important that women take swift and well-informed action to prevent heart disease. At the SANTA BARBARA GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON guest speaker Michele Mallet shares her personal story about her cardiac arrest from a tear in her heart artery. The 42-year-old single mother and Santa Barbara resident’s life was saved as a result of the advancement of medical technology as well as American Heart Association research and education. Learn how to take precautions and follow a healthy lifestyle; 805 Living is a media sponsor; The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, goredsb.heart.org. February 11: Create a masterpiece at PAINTING WITH A PURPOSE, a monthly art event aimed at raising money for a specific organization. Each participant gets an easel, a canvas, art supplies, and paint, and a local artist provides instruction. Wine, beer, and soda are available, so grab a drink and a brush and start painting. Proceeds benefit the Apex Protection Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of wolves; Painting With a Twist, Camarillo, paintingwithatwist.com. >

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Insider February 16: Women can learn about the latest developments in heart health in terms of prevention and treatment at the VENTURA GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON. Join event co-chairs Bernadette Straatsma from Engel & Völkers and Gregory Fontana, M.D., from Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks at this fundraising event that includes a health expo, a silent auction, and educational breakout sessions facilitated by Fontana and the UCLA Health cardiology team; 805 Living is a media sponsor; Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, goredvc.heart.org.

MARCH March 3: Witness the crowning of the King and Queen of the MARDI GRAS BALL, a benefit for Community Conscience. The nonprofit organization owns and operates the Human Services Center, which provides rent-free space to nonprofit social service organizations. Robert Engler and Helene Ross are the royal couple who have served the needs of those in the Ventura County community. Festivities include hors d’oeuvres, champagne, silent and live auctions, a photo booth, dinner, dancing, and music from the Dixie Riverboat Jazz Band; Hyatt Regency Westlake, communityconscience.org.

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March 18: Dogs and their owners are on the move at BARK FOR LIFE, an American Cancer Society noncompetitive walk. It’s a fun-filled day of contests, games, and demonstrations during which those who have lost their lives to cancer and those who are battling it are honored with opening and closing ceremonies, a survivorcaregiver ceremony, a fight-back ceremony, and a luminaria ceremony; Rancho Tapo Community Park, Simi Valley, mainacsevents.org. March 24: Rolling hills, canyon trails, iconic film locations, and Chumash sites make up the scenic route for the DOLE GREAT RACE OF AGOURA HILLS presented by Sports Academy. The courses consist of the road-based Pacific Half Marathon and the trail-based Chesebro Half Marathon. Thrown in for good measure are the Old Agoura 10K, the Deena Kastor 5K, a one-miler for kids, and the one-mile Camp Kinneret Family Fun Run. Proceeds benefit school programs in Agoura Hills and Oak Park that are not funded by the state of California, as well as runner-sponsored charities such as The V Foundation, Train 4 Autism, Team in Training, the American Heart Association, Remedy Run for the Red, and other organizations; Agoura locations, greatrace.run. March 24: Walk three miles at MARCH FOR BABIES to help meet the goal of $80,000 to benefit the March of Dimes. The money assists with funding research for prenatal and postnatal care; Kingsmen Park, Cal Lutheran University, marchforbabies.org.

Worth a Drive

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Venture just outside the 805 for these choice events. January 12–15: Sniff out one of the most aromatic foodie blowouts in the area: The NAPA TRUFFLE FESTIVAL offers a variety of ways to experience this species of tuber, including a Scientific Truffle Grower seminar, a winery truffle lunch, a Wild Mushroom Foray, a truffle orchard tour, a dog-training demonstration, the Napa Truffle Festival, and buying opportunities galore. Area restaurants offer special menus dedicated to the fabulous fungus; Napa Valley locations, napatrufflefestival.com. March 3: Want to know the secret behind how film-challenged guests score high on their ballots at Oscar parties? They watch all the Oscar-nominated documentaries ahead of time at DOCUDAY L.A., where the features and shorts are shown in their entirety. It’s also an opportune time to meet the filmmakers, who answer questions after each screening; Writers Guild Theater, Beverly Hills, documentary.org.

Give Back

Whatever your interests, there’s a volunteer opportunity just right for you. Tell a child a story and magical things can happen. Doing so at the STORYTELLER CHILDREN’S CENTER is only one way to make a difference for kids at this therapeutic preschool in Santa Barbara. For 30 years, the organization has been helping to prepare homeless and at-risk children ages 18 months through 5 years for kindergarten. The organization also provides a safe place for them as well as assists their parents with housing, job placement, and counseling. Programs promote development in the arts, mathematics, history, social science, science, language and literacy, social and emotional skills, and selfawareness. Got a special talent like playing an instrument or puppetry? Share it with the kids. Or assist with field trips, class projects, meal service, fundraising, or administrative tasks. Anyone 14 years of age or older can help out, and there is no time commitment; storytellercenter.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. Please submit your request no later than 14 weeks prior to the issue in which you’d like the information to appear.

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Snooze Clues

Are you one or more z’s short of a good night’s sleep? If so, consider these alternatives.

• “Meditation and mindfulness practices help with whatever experience you’re having, and that includes sleeplessness,” says Frank Baird, LMFT, founder of Now House (nowhouse.com), a Westlake Village meditation studio that uses a secular, skillbased approach that he says can work for everyone. Baird explains that we are conditioned to “push away unpleasantness” using thoughts and emotions. “So late at night, you’re trying to fight those things that you’re paying 54

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

attention to, what worries and upsets you, even thoughts like, ‘I can’t believe I’m still awake, now what will tomorrow be like?’ ” he says. “Meditation teaches you to redirect your attention to something happening in the here and now, such as breathing.” Practicing mindfulness techniques, such as repeatedly counting breaths from one to 10, “helps you realize that you can be aware that something is pleasant or not pleasant and just be all right with it,” Baird says. “Over time, by becoming less reactive in general, you train your mind and body to just let go when you need them to. You don’t have unresolved stuff you feel that you have to process.” The result: A longer and more restorative night’s sleep and a happier and healthier you.

• Nothing is worse for getting a good night’s sleep than the wrong bed, but shopping for a new one is notoriously confusing and expensive. Enter the online luxury lifestyle brand Yaasa Studios (yaasastudios.com) and its new mattress in a box. Constructed from a unique hybrid of comfortable and supportive yet breathable foams and built using an adaptive pocket coil system, the affordable mattresses come in standard sizes and support levels to accommodate all kinds of sleepers. You can visit the Yaasa Studios showroom in Santa Barbara or order from the company’s website: Just click on Design Your Mattress, answer questions about sleep preferences, and Yaasa will deliver a customized mattress to your door. There’s no shipping or delivery fee, and there is a 10-year warranty and a 100-night, risk-free trial with free returns should the sleep fairy fail to materialize. • A warm bath primes the body for sleep, but you can up the ante with Perfect Night’s Sleep Bath & Shower Drops from

Neom Organics (neomorganics.com). Added to your evening soak, the aromatherapeutic blend of English lavender, jasmine,

sweet basil, and 16 other essential oils works to disarm built-up stress. A 3.4-ounce bottle can be purchased for $50 via amazon.com and Westlake Village–based beautyhabit.com.

• Challenge sleeplessness from the inside out with sleep tea from Cambria-based Vana Tisanes (vanatisanes.com). Formulated from a blend of mildly sedating herbs such as chamomile, passionflower, valerian, and St. John’s Wort, the tea is responsibly sourced from organically grown plants and can be ingested daily before bedtime for two to three weeks at a time. It is packaged with 100percent recyclable materials in 1-, 2-, 4- and 8-ounce sizes ranging in price from $4 to $22 and can be purchased via the company’s website and select stores including Mint + Craft in San Luis Obispo and Heritage Goods & Supply in Carpinteria. 

MEDITATOR: © CINEMALIST/STOCKSY UNITED; TEA: COURTESY OF VANA TISANES

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE • THOUSAND OAKS • AGOURA • NE WBURY PARK • VENTURA

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Faces in the Crowd By Nancy Ransohoff Photograph by Gary Moss

Joey Blake

meal planning, play preparation, and recovery. Working closely with the team’s athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches, he provides players with customized individual This Moorpark registered dietitian helps keep performance plans and post-training and post-practice recovery plans Los Angeles Rams players at their peak. and helps to maximize their body composition. Blake notes that head coach Sean McVay is a big supporter of the team’s nutrition department. “[McVay] gets it from a performance side,” Blake says. “He makes our job easier by setting the standard.” Traveling, of course, is also in Blake’s job description, calling for special attention to his own health regimen. “When we’re on the road, I try to keep to my routine as much as possible and hit the hotel gym or run outside, weather permitting,” he says. “At home, I get to the facility [at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks] at about 4:30 a.m. or 5 a.m. for work. I find time to work out or go for a run during the day or after work hours.” On off days, Blake enjoys hiking on the local trails. When it comes to healthful eating, Blake, Super Snacking who lives in Moorpark, Super Bowl and snacking practices what he go hand in hand, so preaches. Among his Joey Blake, R.D., offers a few simple tips to help go-to restaurants are The keep the experience on Natural Cafe near his home the healthy side. Make and Q Sushi in Westlake minor adjustments in Village. “The key is portion ingredients, he suggests, control,” he says, “I enjoy such as substituting lowfat cheeses and lean cuts food—that’s why I got into of meat for standard the business. I try to keep it versions. “And don’t clean with lots of veggies.” make it an all-day thing,” Originally from Long Blake says. “Eat a good Island, New York, Blake grew breakfast and a healthy lunch, and hydrate up near Asheville, North well before the game.” Carolina. He earned his No Monday morning bachelor of science degree s you’re kicking back “We monitor their quarterbacking allowed. in nutrition and dietetics with friends watching yardage through our GPS from Western Carolina a football game you’re system,” Blake says. “We University and then became credentialed probably not thinking can adjust a player’s diet, for instance, as a registered dietitian. Most recently, he about what the players with more foods like fruits and veggies served as director of football nutrition for ate for breakfast or that have anti-inflammatory qualities the University of South Carolina. what they should be to combat extra soreness after games “I never expected to be living in eating after the action on the gridiron. and practices.” California,” Blake says with a slight But that’s part of what goes through Blake, who is in his first season with Southern lilt, “but it took me about two days the mind of Joey Blake, R.D., head team the Rams, is responsible for the team’s to figure it out. It’s a really special place.”  dietitian for the Los Angeles Rams. nutritional counseling and education,

A 56

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facts by heart, and I will personally attend to all of your documents, all of your concerns, and all of your hearings in court. We will work as a team fighting together to protect your interests and your rights. To the end. I handle all aspects of divorce, separation, custody, visitation, division of property, support, restraining orders, etc. I know the 805 county courts like the back of my hand. These are my promises to my clients who I treat like family.

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Upgrades

nspired by color, pattern, and the luminous natural Santa Barbara sunlight, Jessica Risko Smith of Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design ( jrsid.com) created a fresh modern master-bath sanctuary in her client’s Alta Mesa home. “The tub and shower both overlook the canyon,” says Risko Smith, “and on a warm sunny day, when the windows are open, Bob Marley streams into the bathroom from the Sonos in the owner’s pool and patio area below.” Here’s how she got the look.

1 Restoration Hardware “Lugarno” pull ($15–$20); rh.com com

2 Customupholstered seat in Perennials “Snazzy” fabric in Nickel (price upon request); through Jessica Risko Smith.

3 Serena & Lily “Mosaic” mirror ($598); serenaandlily.com.

Bernhardt petrified wood side table ($1,265); bernhardt.com.

Turkish cotton waffle towel ($36); Riviera Towel Company, Santa Barbara, rivieratowel.com.

8 1 1 6 Hydro Systems “Estee” freestanding tub (price upon request); Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies, sbplumbing.com.

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Based on information obtained from the MLS as of November 2017. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. 2014 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. CalBRE #01932655

As a lifelong dancer, Alice has always projected confidence and grace. Sidelined by injuries and illness, she worried that she would never dance again. As a Belmont Village resident, Alice stays active every day in a holistic wellness program that includes personalized fitness, therapy, and rehab programs developed by experts in senior health.

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Good Deeds By Mark Langton

Community Environmental Council

1. Elizabeth Wagner, Leanne Schlinger 2. Gavin Newsom, Laura Capps 3. Lois Capps, Geane DeLima, Sara Miller McCune 4. Karl and Nancy Hutterer 5. Susan and Jon Clark, Sigrid Wright, Ken and Jo Saxon 6. Jenny and Dennis Allen 7. Jean and Dave Davis 8. Nadra Ehrman, Megan Birney 9. Russ and Laura McGlothlin 10. Adam and Lisa benShea, Jordan benShea, Danyel Dean Photographs by Sarita Relis

The Community Environmental Council (CEC; cecsb.org) held its annual Green Gala at The Lark restaurant in Santa Barbara last September. While dining on a bountiful selection of locally raised and prepared farm-to-table cuisine, attendees reveled in the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accomplishments on behalf of the residents of Santa Barbara and the entire Central Coast region. Since 1970 the CEC has been dedicated to a variety of environmental causes, including a push for clean energy and a reduction in fossil fuel dependence. Its programs include going solar and minimizing food waste and use of plastic products.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (bgcconejo.org) held its 15th annual Stand Up for Kids gala dinner and auction at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village in late October. Nine clubs from Newbury Park to Calabasas offer before- and afterschool programs to enrich and augment students in the fields of education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness, and recreation. The clubs also provide summer camps with activities such as team sports, science and technology, and outdoor recreation.

1. Betty and Jack Gleason 2. Bob and Audrey Byers 3. Stephen Davis, Neil Churchill, Amer Soudani 4. Tim Milaney, Gary Stephani, Wendy Blomquist, Barry Elman 5. James Post, Crystal Naone, Alika Naone 6. Francis Okyere, Jocelyne Eberstein, Matthew Abruch 7. Peter and Robin Stoll, Sergio and Galen Gonzalez, Joseph Seetoo 8. Vickie Raven, Randy Pentis 9. Richard and Lynda Galitz 10. David and Linda Catlin Photographs by Mark Langton

JANUARY â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Beyond

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Online Application Deadline: February 1

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In Search of a Good Night NIGHT MOVES Sleep issues like REM sleep behavior disorder, for which currently there is no cure, can result in extreme sleep disruption, such as what’s described above. When combined with other parasomnias (sleep issues that involve movement and other abnormal behaviors during various sleep stages), bedtime becomes something of an unpredictable circus. I turn 50 this month and I have been acting out my dreams for decades; it’s just one aspect of the nightly performances under the Big Top of my bedroom. Add snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (guilty on both charges) and all these conditions are probably keeping me from getting a good night’s sleep. And they may be doing much more harm than that, and not just to me. Things are getting so bad in the nation’s bedrooms that a 2015 article on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website proclaims, “Insufficient Sleep Is a Public Health Problem” and states: “Persons experiencing sleep insufficiency are also more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as from cancer, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life and productivity.” It adds that in the United States an estimated 50 to 70 million adults live with a sleep or

Getting quality sack time can be a lot tougher than just closing your eyes. BY ANTHONY HEAD

Before me is the face of someone posing a threat. I can’t see the face, but I know he is going to cause trouble if I don’t do something. So I strike out with a right cross— walloping the face right in the middle of the lampshade. You see, I punched a lampshade because, up to that moment, I was dreaming and my mind was blurring the lines between sleeping, wakefulness, and dreaming. It’s a condition called REM sleep behavior disorder, which causes me to act out parts of my dreams. It’s considered a disorder because for most people the body is paralyzed while dreaming. I believed—in that moment, in my dream—that I was hitting a person to protect myself, leaving the lampshade and the entire lamp, for that matter, knocked out on the floor.

JANUARY â&#x20AC;¢ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

wakefulness disorder and points out that snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, the kind of condition that stops your breathing for a short time and can reduce the amount of oxygen going to the body’s organs, including the heart.

FAMILY MATTERS “I’m told I snore. But if I didn’t have someone else telling me, I’d swear you were making it up.” So says my father, Robert Head, who is 75 and has been kidding about his snoring (or lack thereof) for as long as I can remember. But he adds, a bit more seriously, that he doesn’t think his snoring impacts his sleep or overall health. When I ask my dad—who is actually a world-class snorer with an impressive sonic resonance that is created by his obstructed airflow and capable of passing through several household walls—if he has any other sleep issues, he responds flatly, no. When I ask my mother, Peggy, also 75, the same question about Dad, she says, “He does have sleep apnea. He will stop breathing and start breathing. That usually wakes me up.” You know what doesn’t wake her up? Her husband’s snoring. “I’ve gotten used to it and there have actually been times when if I go to bed before him, I can’t get to sleep until he is here and snoring,” she tells me. That’s not all. “He lives his dreams sometimes,” she says “He’ll kick and pound the mattress and once in a while he’ll talk or laugh or sometimes whimper.” She typically waits it out, but if his arms or feet get too close, she wakes him up. To recap: My mom is used to sleeping next to a man who sounds like a dyspeptic grizzly bear tuning up a chainsaw, but when it gets quiet in the bedroom she awakens in a panic. If she remains asleep, however, she’s in danger of becoming just another lampshade being bashed. SLEEP CONSCIOUSNESS Obviously, the fruit

doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both my father and I have these sleep conditions, and we both know they shouldn’t be ignored. Fortunately, more people are seeing their doctors about what’s really going on in the bedroom. “They’re just trying to get a good night’s sleep,” says Jonathan R. Cole, M.D., the medical director and managing partner of California Health & Longevity Institute (chli.com) in Westlake Village, who specializes in preventive and internal medicine. “Insomnia is one of the top 10 most common complaints I’m hearing, though.” Cole is seeing an increasing number of patients with complaints about their sleep. He attributes this to a growth in the understanding of sleep issues within the past two decades and especially within the last five years. “It seems to be more discussed,” he says. “People are more aware of the priority of sleep, and there’s more education for them to find.”

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

WHY CHASE THE SANDMAN? Good sleep is

Sleep Hygiene These 13 tips are reprinted from the National Institutes of Health. •Stick to a sleep schedule. •Exercise is great, but not too late in the day. •Avoid caffeine and nicotine. •Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed. •Avoid large meals and beverages late at night. •If possible, avoid medicines that delay or disrupt your sleep. •Don’t take naps after 3 p.m. •Relax before bed. •Take a hot bath before bed. •Have a good sleeping environment. •Have the right sunlight exposure. •Don’t lie in bed awake. •See a health professional if you continue to have trouble sleeping.

about so much more than the number of hours in the sack. Consider just one effect of sleep apnea: Cole explains that sleep can be critical in the battle of the bulge because leptin, a hormone that essentially curbs the appetite, is found in lower levels in people with a chronic lack of good sleep, like those with sleep apnea. People who have lower levels of leptin have more feelings of freedom to indulge in eating. The effect is cyclical. As Cole puts it, “Apnea leads to fatigue and an increase in a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to obesity and lower leptin levels.” Weight-gain issues tend to get people’s attention. But then again, how many sleep-related risks cited by the CDC can you name without looking? If those have already slipped your mind, then maybe you’re the kind of person who thinks there’s nothing so bad about living with a couple of extra pounds and some snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea, though, can also contribute to erectile dysfunction. It can also cause diminishing libido (so that previous condition doesn’t even matter). Or how about a sleep-deprived condition that should scare anyone who burns the candle at both ends: cognitive diminishment. Although it wasn’t that long ago when celebrities (Martha Stewart, for instance) and other public figures (including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton) bragged about how little sleep they needed to thrive, in April of last year, The New York Times reported, “Sleep is the New Status Symbol” and, along with featuring a variety of sleep-enhancement devices and strategies, stated bluntly, “poor sleep will make you fat and sad, and then will kill you.” Maybe that will get your attention.

THE STUDY OF SLUMBER “The [CHLI] center has

the ability to conduct sleep studies within the hotel rooms,” Cole says, referring to the luxurious bedrooms and suites of the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, located adjacent to the medical facilities. “Once diagnosed, the clients are ready for practical steps to be taken. We can go and look at the underlying issues.” Several years ago, when I noticed that I was having more and more trouble getting anything done during the afternoons, I decided to undergo a sleep study. (It was not undertaken at CHLI.) The overnight test was painless, if a bit awkward at first. A number of electrodes were attached to my head and face; each had a wire running back to a computer at a sleep lab, recording various criteria. In the morning, the results led to a diagnosis of sleep apnea. It was recommended that I sleep with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which uses forced air, traveling through a plastic hose from the machine to my nose, to keep my airway open and eliminate snoring.

Fifty to 70 million U.S. adults live with a sleep or wakefulness disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 805LIVING.COM / JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018

FROM TOP: © SELIMAKSAN/ISTOCK.COM; © DINA GIANGREGORIO/STOCKSY UNITED

There is no magic bullet for good sleep, but there are things that can be done to increase chances.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

(It looks like the creature from Alien when it straps itself to John Hurt’s face). But I’m not going to lie. Even though I do log a little more solid sleep-time, I’m still not totally comfortable with the CPAP. I’m aware that it’s covering my nose all night long. I wake up often, realizing that I’m hooked up to a machine that’s blowing air through a tube into my nose with enough force to put out a small-size kitchen fire. Finally, a CPAP doesn’t alleviate the acting out of my dreams, so I can still be pretty active on occasion. Although my mom has never been struck by my dad at night, my wife, Michele, 46, has not been so lucky. “It was the kicking,” Michele says, referring to some of the movements I make in bed that signal trouble is coming. First, though, there was the snoring, and she tried really hard to deal with it: She slept with two fans on, ear plugs in, and a pillow over her head. It didn’t work. “I’m asleep,” she says, “and then the snoring starts soft and it gets louder. Then he starts to choke on his tongue. Then he starts getting kicky. I will usually say something at that time.” If she misses the opportunity to wake me in time, then things start to look like the scenario described at the beginning of this article. The worst that’s happened, Michele says: “I got punched in the face. Twice.”

REST FOR THE WEARY? Ann Lee, M.D., a

pulmonologist at the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, is board certified in sleep medicine. She diagnoses and manages fatigue and other conditions that can result from sleep apnea. “A pulmonologist gets involved because of the breathing issues that accompany sleep apnea,” Lee says. “A cardiologist may be needed because maybe there’s something off with your heart rhythms and they can be worse at night.” Among the various tools used to combat sleep problems are sleeping pills, but Lee understands that many doctors discourage their patients from taking them for various reasons, including the fact that their efficacy may wear off after a night or two, and that they have side effects like headache, lightheadedness, next-day drowsiness, changes in appetite, and loss of balance. “I would agree generally [that sleeping pills aren’t the answer for chronic sleep disorders] because there are a lot of potential adverse effects, but some situations may require it,” Lee says. “There are times, like work shift changes, medical conditions, time changes, stress, etc.—these can have adverse effects on your sleep, and a sleeping pill for a night just might help.” She’s quick to point out that sleeping pills are not the answer over the long term. Like Cole, Lee

believes that there is no magic bullet for good sleep, but there are things that can be done to increase chances (see “Sleep Hygiene,” page 66). And like Cole, she believes that the only way to get at the true root of a sleep problem is through an individualized sleep study. As for mattresses with space-age technology, pillows with weightless stuffing, and sheets with a 10,000 thread count (their fibers come from the softest whiskers, which were shed, not plucked, from an Andean mountain goat), Lee doesn’t think they count for much when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. “That stuff is mostly for comfort,” she says.

A WAKE-UP CALL The fruit doesn’t fall far from the

Pleasant Dreams Late last year, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village in conjunction with CHLI launched a therapeutic Sleep Wellness Program, providing a variety of approaches and tools for better sleep. The on-site program includes massage and a DreamKit Beauty Sleep Ritual take-home pack that includes a proprietary blend of aromatic extracts, music therapy, and instructions for relaxation. “When it comes to sleep disorders, it’s recommended to sometimes take a multidimensional approach,” says Cole.

tree, for sure. My daughter, Sidney Grimes, 26, doesn’t have a snoring problem (yet), but she does have REM sleep behavior disorder. She’s been known to thrash around in bed, acting out her dreams. Sidney has another sleep condition, called sleep paralysis. “Sometimes it happens right as I’m drifting off to sleep; sometimes it happens in the middle of the night,” says Sidney, describing the sensation she experiences with sleep paralysis. “I’m not able to move my body. I can see the room. There’s also a presence that feels threatening. “Sometimes I see the presence and I feel a pressure on my chest, like it’s sitting on me. It’s teasing me, laughing at me. I get out of it by screaming myself awake. At first, my mouth isn’t able to open. It’s a horrible sound, hearing these groans of fear. Then I finally open my mouth and scream and that typically gets me out of it. If I drift right back to sleep I go right back into the dream, so I try to stay awake for awhile afterward.” I’ve always been fascinated with sleep. The fact that we close our eyes and become so vulnerable—for one third of our lives if we’re doing it right—is quite exciting to think about. But the more I learn about sleep as it pertains to me, the more I know I have to put work into it to be successful and well rested. A good night’s sleep is much more important than just waking up refreshed. One of the resources I used in this article was Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (Scribner, 2017) by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. Although it has a bit of a cheesy self-help title, Walker’s book cites research showing that some people with chronic sleepdeprivation (over months and years) will “acclimate to their impaired performance, lower alertness, and reduced energy levels.” So slowly we are a nation powering through to our own sleepless demise, with real consequences. Why We Sleep also relates the very disturbing fact that drowsy driving causes more accidents each year than those caused by drugs and alcohol combined. That’s a real nightmare. 

805LIVING.COM / JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018

Bringing together new ideas under the highdesert sky. BY JOAN TAPPER

ALEX NYE/ALEX NYE ART

THINKING

Big

Lights lend a festive air to an evening around a campfire at the Blue Sky Center in New Cuyama, where an innovative nonprofit group is tackling economic development, tourism, housing, and food in a remote rural area.

JANUARY â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

a supermarket in town, access to fresh, healthy foods is limited at best. It’s Blue Sky’s ambitious mission to change all that—to regenerate the land, economy, and community.

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

DRAWING ON ARTFUL DESIGNS At the heart of it all is Blue Sky’s 1950s-era Flagship Building, which is gradually and artfully being renovated into offices and meeting spaces for Jankoski and development director Em Johnson, a tiny retail area, and working and living spaces for the four invaluable AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members on three-year assignments here. Outside, an agricultural-themed mural by Ojai artist Daren Thomas Magee serves as a backdrop for a gathering spot, while across the way, graphic artist and USC adjunct professor Eric Junker has added a colorful painting to the exterior of the Made in Cuyama Warehouse, which houses several shops and workspaces: In one, automotive woodworker Alex Guerrero replicates vintage woody station wagons; in another screen printer Garrett Gerstenberger designs and produces silkscreen apparel and posters. The pretty Khalili Cantina stands to one side of the compound; plans for other structures on site are being developed.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JESUS FRAYRE IG @SULOK.SL; LAURA DART@DARTPHOTO; LAURA DART@DARTPHOTO; LISSE LUNDIN @HIPCAMP @LISSELUNDIN; LAURA DART@DARTPHOTO

YELLOW CLOTH STREAMERS blowing sideways in the breeze signal that you’ve arrived at the Blue Sky Center in New Cuyama. But just in case there’s any doubt, the name is discreetly spelled out over the door of the single-story industrial-looking building at the edge of this high-desert town. Eroded tan hills make a striking backdrop to the north, while open fields stretch to mountains in the opposite direction. Overhead the sky is a clear bright blue, as it is here some 300 days of the year, says executive director Philip Jankoski, suggesting one reason for the center’s name. There’s also the fact that this place is home to some lofty, “blue sky” thinking about how to address housing, food, and economic development in a remote rural place and how art and design contribute to the way a community thinks about itself. It’s so quiet at the northeastern edge of Santa Barbara County, it’s hard to envision the boom that followed the discovery of oil in Cuyama Valley in 1948. Within a few years Richfield Oil Company had founded a company town, planting trees, providing water, and constructing houses and facilities for its workers. In the late 1970s, however, the company departed, leaving half a dozen industrial buildings, an airport runway, and a community in decline. Today only about 500 residents live in New Cuyama, with less than half of them employed in local agriculture, government, and social sector jobs and some mining-, oil-, and gas-related enterprises. The rest face a long commute to Santa Maria or toward Bakersfield. There is not enough housing, and without

BLUE SKY BEGINNINGS Five years ago the Santa Barbara–based Zannon family, who have farmed their organic pistachios in the Cuyama Valley for decades and enjoy camping and hiking in the area, decided to take their family-run foundation— with its emphasis on the environment and education—in a new and notable direction. Instead of simply continuing to give grants, they would make a more impactful, if risky, investment by acquiring the former Richfield buildings and land and establishing a nonprofit organization to address rural community development in innovative ways. By 2015, the Blue Sky Center was up and running. “Our goal is both philanthropic and business oriented,” says Jankoski. “The strategy is to be self-supporting as a nonprofit. That means we have to be entrepreneurial.” But any ventures have to be tied to the group’s mission.

A town at a crossroads (clockwise from above): Dramatic hills and high desert define the northern horizon beyond the Blue Sky compound of 1950s industrial buildings at the edge of the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residential grid; Garrett Gerstenbergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silkscreen shop; a printed design; Mattie Shelton (on the right) at her stylish Gable hut with a friend; the fork in the road.

Art and design are integral to the center because of the role they play in establishing who the community is through visual means. TARGETING TOURISM There are already eye-catching tent-style huts that add a hip lodging component to Blue Sky and have proven remarkably popular with off-the-beaten-track travelers. Designer Mattie Shelton, daughter of Santa Barbara architect Jeff Shelton, had been working on a small prototype of one when the Zannons saw it and asked her to create five larger ones. She came up with individualized canvas-covered steel frames with plywood floors and view-friendly glass fronts. “New Cuyama is an underserved community,” she says, “and though it is still in Santa Barbara County, it is somewhat difficult to get to. Having a place to stay out there seemed to really open up opportunities for [Blue Sky]. Now at weekend events, attendees can stay a night or two and really get the full experience. Artists and builders in residence have a place to tuck in. Also, having the huts up on Hipcamp and Airbnb seems like a really effective way for outsiders to come learn about the important work Blue Sky is doing.” HELPING HANDS Art and design are integral to the center because of the role they play in rural place-making, which means using design thinking to help a community establish who they are, often through visual means. To help with that, Blue Sky has initiated an exciting partnership with USC’s Roski School of Art and Design, in which undergraduates in the Social Projects in Design class this spring will develop a project for the center. “The students will visit at least twice during the semester,” says Roski vice dean of design Haven Lin-Kirk, once to get familiar with the place and the second time midway through the class to give on-site design proposals and critiques. “The project could be about signage, which would make an impact, but we also hope that they’ll talk about the role of the designer in community building,” she says. “This idea [of a Blue Sky project] is appealing to an educator because we want design students to do something for the greater good, to contribute to a larger conversation.” There are plans to extend a similar opportunity in the fall 74

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

to graduate students pursuing the Roski School’s new Masters in Design program, a two-year studio-based MFA. Lin-Kirk recently led a workshop at Blue Sky on shibori—a Japanese method of dyeing fabrics with indigo—to contribute funds for an artists-in-residence and community enrichment program called 5-5-5—five artists staying in five huts or dorms over five days in April. Other Blue Sky projects have a longer timeline. Two of the VISTA members, for example, are working on an important assessment to focus on why housing is an issue and help figure out how and with whom to partner in order to repair substandard residences or create new ones. And as part of its goal to address local food systems, the center also has obtained a mobile catering trailer, which could be used for retail, for a cottage industry, or for educational, nutritional, and culinary arts programs. UNITING OPEN MINDS Meanwhile, there’s always a place for events, like the Rural Summit held last May that focused on place-making, tourism and economic development, and food systems, and which convened community members, thinkers, and makers for panel discussions, breakout sessions, and a shared table for meals. Festive town gatherings, like the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, bring out kids and adults alike for food, music, and dancing. As Blue Sky ideas have been relayed to the community, they have evolved and changed. The big question, Jankoski says, is “How can we partner with community organizations to create that rural lifestyle that meets the needs of people? I’m a systems thinker. That means using design thinking to see how things can come together and be impactful. You need staff and a team that understands you can’t leave anyone out of the conversation. You need partnership, and that’s hard work. “We’re working on prioritizing ideas and focusing on incremental successes,” he says. “We’re results-driven. We’re testing things and seeing what sticks, but we also want to see what moves the needle.” 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JESUS FRAYRE IG @SULOK.SL; TATE LARRICK @BREAD_BUTTER_805; TATE LARRICK @BREAD_BUTTER_805; ALEX NYE/ALEX NYE ART; TATE LARRICK @BREAD_BUTTER_805

Nothing but Blue Sky (clockwise from top): Mobile tent-style huts add a hip lodging component and have proven popular with offthe-beaten-track travelers; an illuminating moment; Eric Junker adds a colorful wall to the Made in Cuyama Warehouse; Ojai artist Daren Mageeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mural covers the back of the Flagship Building; Phillip Jankoski serves as executive director.

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Making

Moments

That Become

Memories Create a one-of-a-kind wedding or other special event with the help of these local experts. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELIZABETH MESSINA

JANUARY â&#x20AC;¢ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

BEAUTY

CAKES/DESSERTS

Brit Tarr Hair and Makeup Simi Valley, brittarr.com

Bread Basket Cake Company Camarillo, facebook.com/breadbasketcakecompany

The Groom Concierge Santa Barbara, thegroomconcierge.com Janet Villa Hair + Makeup Solvang, janetvilla.com Rhonda Johnson Cambria, bridalmakeupandhair.com Mobile Bridal Salon mobilebridalsalon.com The Studio Agency, Cathryn Van Breene Santa Barbara, thestudioagency.com StudioLash Agoura Hills and Ventura, studiolash.net Team Hair & Makeup Santa Barbara, teamhairandmakeupservice.com

BRIDAL WEAR Lili Bridals Tarzana, lilibridals.com Panache Bridal & Eveningwear Santa Barbara, panachebridals.com To Have & To Hold Bridal Salon San Luis Obispo, tohaveandtoholdbridalsalon.com

The Cakery Atascadero, slocakery.com Chooket Santa Barbara, chooket.com Christine Dahl Pastries Santa Barbara, santabarbaracakes.com Christine’s Cake Creations Paso Robles, christinescakecreations.com Crushcakes & Cafe Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, crushcakes.com Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections Buellton, decadenceweddingcakes.com Enjoy Cupcakes Santa Barbara and Los Olivos, enjoycupcakes.com Frost It Cakery Thousand Oaks, frostitcakery.com

Seasons Catering Ventura, seasonscateringca.com

DANCE INSTRUCTION Arthur Murray Dance Centers Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Canoga Park, arthurmurray.com

Sugar Lab Bake Shop Ventura, sugarlabbakeshop.com

EVENT PLANNERS & DESIGNERS

Sweet Arleen’s Westlake Village, sweetarleens.com

805 Catering Company Thousand Oaks, 805catering.com Command Performance Catering Group & Event Production Moorpark, cpcatering.com

JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Rock Chef Rolls Westlake Village, rockchefrolls.com

Sprinkles Cupcakes Westlake Village, sprinkles.com

CATERERS

Pure Joy Catering Santa Barbara, purejoycatering.com

Alegria by Design Santa Barbara, alegriabydesign.com Amber Weir Weddings and Events Santa Barbara, amberweir.com Atelier de La Fleur Weddings & Events Santa Ynez, lafleurweddings.com Bella Vita Events Westlake Village, bellavitaevents.com

DJ’s California Catering Ventura, djscatering.com

Bijoux Events Santa Barbara, bijouxevents.com

Duo Catering & Events Santa Barbara, duoevents.com

Choux Choux Malibu, chouxchouxla.com

Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village fourseasons.com/westlakevillage

Churchill House Events Westlake Village, churchill-intl.com

Justine’s Private Cuisine Thousand Oaks, justinesprivatecuisine.com

Exquisite Events Westlake Village, exquisevents.com

New West Catering Buellton, newwestcatering.com

Imagine Weddings and Special Events Santa Barbara, imaginesb.com

Omni Catering Carpinteria, omnicateringsb.com

Joelle Charming Ventura, joellecharming.com

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Camellia Floral Design Santa Barbara, camelliafloraldesign.com

Renaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bouquet Santa Ynez, renaesbouquet.com

The English Garden Westlake Village, theenglishgarden.com

Westlake Florist Westlake Village, westlakeflowers.com

Hogue & Co. Floral & Event Design Montecito, hoguefloral.com

JEWELERS

Idlewild Floral & Event Design Santa Barbara, idlewildfloral.com Joy Proctor Floral Santa Barbara, joyproctor.com Knot Just Flowers Oxnard, knotjustflowersdesign.com Mindy Rice Floral and Event Design Santa Barbara and Los Olivos, mindyrice.com

Joy Proctor Design Santa Barbara, joyproctor.com Lisa Vorce Co Los Angeles, lisavorce.com Grace Lorenzen San Luis Obispo, gracelorenzen.com Merryl Brown Events Montecito, merrylbrown.com Rani Hoover Inspired Weddings & Events Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, ranihoover.com Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events sbwinecountryevents.com Tyler Speier Events Santa Barbara, tylerspeier.com VP Events, Inc. Westlake Village, vpevents.com Wild Heart Events Santa Barbara, wildheartevents.com XOXO Bride Events Ojai, xoxobride.com

FLORISTS Adornments Flowers & Finery San Luis Obispo, adornmentsflowers.com 80

JANUARY â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Ben Bridge Thousand Oaks and Canoga Park, benbridge.com Bryant & Sons, Ltd. Montecito and Santa Barbara, bryantandsons.com Dejaun Jewelers Thousand Oaks and Woodland Hills, dejaun.com

JANUARY â&#x20AC;¢ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

LOCATIONS-Country Clubs Calabasas Country Club calabasasgolf.com Montecito Country Club montecitocc.com Moorpark Country Club moorparkgolf.com North Ranch Country Club Westlake Village, northranchcc.org Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Carpinteria, sbpolo.com Sherwood Country Club Thousand Oaks, sherwoodcc.com Spanish Hills Country Club Camarillo, spanishhillswedding.com Wood Ranch Golf Club Simi Valley, woodranchgc.com

LOCATIONS-Hotels/Resorts The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort Solvang, alisal.com Allegretto Vineyard Resort Paso Robles, ayreshotels.com Belmond El Encanto Santa Barbara, belmond.com/el-encanto-santa-barbara Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club Malibu, calamigosguestranch.com Canary, a Kimpton Hotel Santa Barbara, canarysantabarbara.com Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Ventura, cpventura.com Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Pismo Beach, thedolphinbay.com Kirk Jewelers Westlake Village, kirkjewelersca.com Marshalls Jewelers San Luis Obispo, marshalls1889.com Moyen & Co. Jewellers Westlake Village, moyenco.com Peregrine Galleries (vintage) Montecito, peregrine.shop Polacheckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewelers Calabasas, polachecks.com Raiman Rocks Calabasas, raimanrocks.com

Silverhorn Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, silverhorn.com Tiffany & Co. Canoga Park, tiffany.com Van Gundy Jewelers Camarillo and Ventura, vangundys.com Vintage Malibu vintagemalibu.com

LINGERIE

The Fess Parker: A Doubletree by Hilton Resort Santa Barbara, fpdtr.com Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village fourseasons.com/westlakevillage Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara fourseasons.com/santabarbara Hotel Californian Santa Barbara, thehotelcalifornian.com

Kate & Lace Westlake Village, kateandlace.com

Hotel Cheval Paso Robles, hotelcheval.com

Les Boudoirs Boutique Westlake Village, lesboudoirs.com

Hyatt Westlake Plaza Westlake Village, westlake.hyatt.com JANUARY â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

JANUARY â&#x20AC;¢ FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Limoneira Co. Santa Paula, limoneira.com

Inn at Morro Bay innatmorrobay.com

Maravilla Gardens Camarillo, mgardens.com

Ojai Valley Inn ojairesort.com

Ojai Ranch House Ojai, theranchhouse.com

Palm Garden Hotel Thousand Oaks, palmgardenhotel.com

Quail Ranch Events Simi Valley, quailranchevents.com

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara, ritzcarlton.com

Santa Barbara Historical Museum sbhistorical.org

San Ysidro Ranch Montecito, sanysidroranch.com

The White Barn Edna Valley San Luis Obispo, ednavalleywhitebarn.com

SeaVenture Beach Hotel & Restaurant Pismo Beach, seaventure.com Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa San Luis Obispo, sycamoresprings.com

Opolo Vineyards Paso Robles, opolo.com

Westlake Village Inn westlakevillageinn.com

Refugio Ranch Vineyards Santa Ynez, refugioranch.com

LOCATIONS-Wineries/ Vineyards

Robert Hall Winery Paso Robles, roberthallwinery.com

Ca’ Del Grevino Vineyard and Estate Santa Maria, grevino.com

Saddlerock Ranch Malibu, malibuwines.com

Eberle Winery Paso Robles, eberlewinery.com

SummerWood Winery & Inn Paso Robles, summerwoodwine.com

Edna Valley Vineyard San Luis Obispo, ednavalleyvineyard.com

Sunstone Vineyards & Winery Santa Ynez, sunstonewinery.com

Epona Estate Hidden Valley, eponaestate.com

Tooth & Nail Winery Paso Robles, toothandnailwinery.com

Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard Los Olivos, fessparker.com

Triunfo Creek Vineyards Agoura Hills, triunfocreekvineyards.com

Firestone Vineyard Los Olivos, firestonewine.com

Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery Paso Robles, vinarobles.com

Gainey Vineyard Santa Ynez, gaineyvineyard.com

Zaca Creek Ranch Santa Ynez, zacacreekranch.com

Grassini Family Vineyards Santa Ynez, grassinifamilyvineyards.com

LOCATIONS-Other Venues

Greengate Ranch & Vineyard San Luis Obispo, greengateweddings.com HammerSky Vineyards & Inn Paso Robles, hammersky.com Herzog Wine Cellars Oxnard, herzogwinecellars.com Justin Paso Robles, justinwine.com The Narrative Loft Santa Barbara, thenarrativeloft.com Niner Wine Estates Paso Robles, ninerwine.com

PARTY/TENT RENTALS, DJS, & EVENT PRODUCTION Bella Vista Designs Santa Barbara, bellavistadesigns.com Bruce Barrios Productions Ventura, brucebarrios.com Classic Party Rentals Santa Barbara, santabarbara.classicpartyrentals.com Elan Event Rentals Santa Barbara, elaneventrentals.com Gypset Events Malibu, gypsetevent.com La Tavola Fine Linen Rental Santa Barbara, latavolalinen.com Otis + Pearl Vintage Rentals Ventura, otisandpearl.com

Brook View Ranch Agoura Hills, brookviewranch.com Duke’s Malibu, dukesmalibu.com Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse Los Olivos, farmhouserental.com Granada Theatre Santa Barbara, granadasb.org Hartley Botanica Somis, hartleybotanica.com Hummingbird Nest Simi Valley, hummingbirdnestranch.com JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM 805LIVING.COM M AY 2 0 1 6 85 85

Pretty Vintage Rentals Westlake Village, prettyvintagerentals.com Scout Rental Co. Templeton, scoutrentalco.com Social Cycle (16-person party bike) Santa Barbara, socialcycleca.com Spark Creative Events Santa Barbara, sparkcreativeevents.com Tap Truck (vintage craft beer truck) San Luis Obispo, taptruckcentralcoast.com The Tent Merchant Santa Barbara, thetentmerchant.com Town & Country Santa Barbara, townandcountryeventrentals.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Bessy the Foto Bus Arroyo Grande, bessythefotobus.com Cameron Ingalls Photography cameroningalls.com Cara Robbins Studio Santa Barbara, cararobbinsstudio.com

Jillian Rose Photography Solvang, jillianrosephotography.com

Wild Whim Design + Photography wildwhimphotography.com

Elizabeth Messina Photographs elizabethmessina.com

Joel Serrato Films + Photographs Solvang, joelserrato.com

REGISTRY

James & Jess Photography Santa Barbara, jamesandjess.com

Jose Villa Photography josevillaphoto.com

Jeff Newsom Photographer jeffnewsom.com

Judi Bumstead Photography Thousand Oaks, judibumsteadphotography.com

Jennifer Rau Photography jsrphotography.com Jenny Quicksall Photography jennyquicksall.com

Katie Moos Photography katiemoos.com Kristen BeinkeÂ Wedding + Lifestyle Photographer Santa Barbara, kristenbeinke.com Megan Sorel Photography megansorel.com Mi Belle Photographers mibelleinc.com Michael + Anna Costa Photography michaelandannacosta.com Michelle Warren Photography mwfoto.com Nancy Neil Photographer lovenancyneil.com Susan Bordelon Photography susanbordelon.com

Coast 2 Coast Collection Santa Barbara, c2ccollection.com Hudson Grace Montecito, hudsongracesf.com

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Taste FOOD / WINE / DINING OUT

Turn Over a New Leaf

Three new cookbooks from local chefs pump up the flavor in healthful veggie dishes. Sample their fresh takes on salad with these recipes. By Jaime Lewis

GRILLED BABY GEM AND SNAP PEA SALAD WITH PISTACHIO HERB PESTO “Baby gems have fantastic flavor and are almost sweet,” says Pascale Beale of the leafy lettuce she uses here. The idea for grilling the greens originated from memories of her grandmother making a wilted lettuce dish in a pressure cooker. “She used to make it with peas and shallots and lardon,” Beale recalls. Although Beale thought adding lettuce seemed weird at first, “when I tasted it, I loved it,” she says. She chooses to grill her lettuce instead, to give it a nice sear.

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Serves 8 1 cup parsley leaves ½ cup mint leaves ¼ cup pistachios 2 tablespoons chopped chives Juice and zest of 1 lemon Olive oil 4 heads of baby gem lettuce, outer leaves removed, quartered lengthwise 1 pound sugar snap peas, cut diagonally Salt Pepper To make the pistachio pesto: In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, chop the parsley, mint leaves, pistachios, and chives using short pulses. Add the lemon juice and zest. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil and process until the pesto is fairly smooth. Put a grill pan on medium-high heat. Place the lettuce into a medium mixing bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil. Toss to coat. Grill for just 1 to 2 minutes per side, taking care not to char it. Place the grilled lettuce on a serving platter. Place the snap peas in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and add a good pinch of salt and 7 to 8 grinds of pepper. Transfer the snap peas to the pan and grill for 2 to 3 minutes, turning them once or twice. Scatter the grilled snap peas over and around the baby gems and spoon on the pesto. Serve warm. >

MEDIA 27

hanks to its gentle, temperate climate, the Central Coast grows loads of vegetables year-round—a boon to anyone seeking absolution for the dietary sins of a gluttonous holiday season. “I’m really inspired by the farmers’ market,” says Santa Barbara chef Pascale Beale (pascaleskitchen.com), whose newest cookbook, Les Légumes: Vegetable Recipes From the Market Table (M27 Editions, 2017), brings vegetables to the center of the plate. “I believe in cooking and eating seasonal, uncomplicated food. I wanted the food to taste of the ingredients, and a vegetable cookbook is a natural extension of that.” The recipe she shares here— tender baby gem lettuce and snap peas, seared in a grill pan and served warm under a drizzle of nutty pesto—packs a bright, flavorful punch. Also found here are fresh salad recipes from two other new cookbooks with local ties: Plant-Protein Recipes That You’ll Love (Adams Media, 2017) by Westlake Village native, blogger, and author Carina Wolff (kalememaybe.com) and Around the Table: Recipes & Stories From The Lark in Santa Barbara (Acme Ventures Press, 2017), recipes by Jason Paluska, produced by Sherry Villanueva, and photography by Macduff Everton. These three tasty plant-based dishes just might send your winter dieting blues packing.

Pistachios. parsley, mint, and chives are pulverized with lemon and olive oil to make a fresh, nutty pesto for Pascale Beale’s grilled lettuce and snap pea salad.

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Taste Food

Inspiration for The Lark’s (thelarksb.com) new cookbook came from executive chef Jason Paluska’s desire to document some of the menu items he’s loved since the Santa Barbara restaurant opened in 2013. “I personally wanted to showcase all of the hard work that went into building this place and celebrate what the Central Coast of California is all about,” Paluska says. While the style of Paluska’s cuisine flexes between California and his home state of Texas, the common denominator is intensely fresh ingredients, like the ones called for in this recipe. “It’s got the right amount of texture, earthiness, sweetness, and richness,” he says, adding that hibiscus is an unexpected element “that really brings the beets to life.” Dried hibiscus, also sold under its Spanish name flor de Jamaica, is available at specialty grocers and at amazon. com. If you don’t have a chinois to separate liquids from solids for the hibiscus vinaigrette, use a fine mesh sieve or strainer instead. When pluots are not in season, Paluska recommends substituting Asian pear. Serves 4 HIBISCUS VINAIGRETTE ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns ¼ teaspoon juniper berries 1 bay leaf ¼ cup dried hibiscus 5 tablespoons red wine vinegar ¼ cup sugar ¼ water ¼ vanilla bean, seeds only 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup olive oil 1 teaspoon xantham gum ROASTED BEETS 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons ground black pepper 6 tablespoons each red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh thyme, de-stemmed ½ pound golden beets, cleaned, skins retained ½ pound red beets, cleaned, skins retained TOASTED PISTACHIOS ½ cup raw pistachios 1 teaspoon olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt

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MÂCHE 2 cups mâche 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Olive oil Salt to taste ½ pound burrata, sliced 1 pluot, sliced 1 persimmon, sliced 1 gold baby beet, shaved 1 red baby beet, shaved 1 Chioggia baby beet, shaved To make hibiscus vinaigrette: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spread peppercorns, juniper berries, and bay leaf on a baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until aromatic. Make a sachet by tying up the peppercorns, berries, and bay leaf in a square of cheesecloth, then place into a pot with hibiscus, vinegar, sugar, water, vanilla bean seeds, and salt. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat, and let steep and cool for 45 minutes. Remove sachet and blend the vinaigrette in a high-powered blender until velvety smooth. With blender on low, slowly add olive oil in a steady stream until emulsified. Sprinkle in xantham gum. Pass through a chinois. Chill over an ice bath. Adjust seasoning to taste. To make roasted beets: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, and thyme in a mixing bowl. Place beets into a deep baking dish. Pour vinegar mixture into the dish to a depth of 1 inch. Wrap dish tightly with foil. Bake 60 to 90 minutes or until knife-tender, adding water if necessary during baking to keep beets from drying out. If the dish is too shallow, or the oven too hot, the beets will dry out too soon. Remove from oven and peel with a clean towel while still warm so the skin removes easily. Chill completely, then cut into bite-size pieces. To make toasted pistachios: Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Coat pistachios evenly with olive oil and season with salt. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool. To prepare the mâche: Lightly season mâche with lemon, olive oil, and salt to taste. To serve: Sauce the plate with hibiscus vinaigrette. Toss the roasted beets in the hibiscus vinaigrette and add to the plate along with the burrata, pluot and persimmon slices, and mâche. Garnish with toasted pistachios and shaved beets.

KALE SUPERFOOD SALAD WITH VEGAN GREEN GODDESS DRESSING “I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but most of what I eat is vegan or vegetarian,” says Carina Wolff, author of Plant-Protein Recipes That You’ll Love (Adams Media, 2017). “This book is about creative ways to

get plant-based protein.” Wolff loads up this salad recipe with high-nutrient ingredients like sweet potatoes for fiber, lentils for protein, and seeds for protein and healthy fats. For the Green Goddess Dressing, she uses avocados and cashews—which whip up to an extraordinarily creamy consistency—as a stand-in for dairy ingredients. Serves 4 GREEN GODDESS DRESSING ½ cup raw unsalted cashews, soaked overnight 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and pitted ½ cup fresh basil leaves 4 small green onions, sliced 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped Juice of 4 small lemons ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil KALE SUPERFOOD SALAD 6 cups chopped fresh kale leaves 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided ¼ teaspoon sea salt 2 small sweet potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes 1 cup cooked green lentils ½ cup halved plum tomatoes ¼ cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds ¼ cup hemp seeds To make Green Goddess Dressing: Add all dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend on high speed until smooth, about 10 to 20 seconds. To make Kale Superfood Salad: Put kale in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sea salt, and rub the kale leaves between your fingers to break up the fibers and soften them. Set aside. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a 10x15-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread out sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and bake about 15 minutes until softened and just beginning to crisp. Add sweet potatoes, lentils, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, and hemp seeds to the bowl of kale. Add dressing and toss together until everything is evenly coated. 

FROM TOP: CARINA WOLFF; MACDUFF EVERTON

ROASTED BEETS AND BURRATA, PLUOT, TOASTED PISTACHIOS, HIBISCUS, MÂCHE

R E C E N T L O C A L AC T I V I T Y by Kay Fields

SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT

SOLD • $2,125,000

1479 Aldercreek Place • $2,299,000

5720 Hidden Brook Court

Completely Remodeled - 2016

Kay Respresented buyer

SOLD • $1,920,000

SOLD • $2,455,000

SOLD • $1,145,000

31557 Foxfield Drive

4391 Golf Course Drive

1881 Calle Salto

818.419.1172 kfieldsrealtor@gmail.com www.kayfieldsrealtor.com CalBRE License #01323396

Buyers advised to verify accuracy of all information through independent inspection by professionals. If your home is currently listed for sale this is not meant as a solicitation. Office is independently owned and operated.

Taste Spirits By David Gadd

A Cordial Welcome

lthough the term is infrequently used today and may remind you of something your Aunt Ethel once served to her bridge club, a cordial—from the Latin cor for “heart”—is a distilled beverage designed to lift the spirits and lighten the heart. In fact, in medieval times these concoctions were literally prescribed as medicine for the body and the soul. Too bad all medicine isn’t this tasty! Winter, with its cool temperatures and short days, is the ideal season to serve heartwarming cordials, whether on their own or used as afterdinner drams that put the finishing touch on a meal. Luckily, the Central Coast is burgeoning with craft distilleries making unique spirits that can serve as after-dinner therapy. The kumquat (the name comes from the

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Cantonese for “golden orange”) is a small citrus tree native to Eastern Asia, but its frost-tolerance makes it suitable for growing in temperate climates like that of Paso Robles. Distiller Alex Villicana of Re:Find Distillery in Paso crafts the small, brightly color fruit into Re:Find Kumquat Liqueur ($28, refinddistillery.com), an aromatic spirit with a beautiful burnished-gold color and an exotic, tangy flavor. Villicana says he’s never seen any other liqueurs made from kumquat, so his version may be one of a kind. Pendray’s Distillery in Templeton, a spinoff of PasoPort Wine Company, offers the enticing Pendray’s Walnut Liqueur ($40, pendraysdistillery. com), its version of nocino, the justly celebrated walnut liqueur of northern Italy. The Paso Robles–grown nuts are hand-harvested while still green, chopped, and then steeped for several

Explore the heartwarming liqueurs of California’s Central Coast.

months in neutral brandy with a proprietary mix of spices that includes clove and cinnamon. With its sweetness balanced by the bitter tannins from the walnut hulls, this is a classic after-dinner digestif that can settle the stomach while lifting the spirits. The attractive, wax-sealed bottle and retro-themed label are the finishing touches on this classy cordial. On another Italian note, Bethel Rd. Grappa di Primitivo ($40, bethelrddistillery.com) is made in the traditional, artisanal style from pomace, the grape seeds and skins left over from winemaking, using a Bavarian-made copper still. The primitivo grapes, the Italian equivalent of zinfandel, are grown on the Udsen family’s estate in Paso Robles. Serve this spicy, peppery spirit neat, add it to espresso for a caffé corretto (“corrected coffee”), or use it to macerate dried figs for a true homemade fruit cordial (for complete instructions, consult Lidia’s Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali). The grappa is available at the Castoro Cellars tasting room in Templeton. For a more all-American cordial, try Grandma Tommie’s Apple Pie Liqueur ($30, cutlersartisan.com) from Cutler’s Artisan Spirits in Santa Barbara. Owner and craft distiller Ian Cutler, who has a chemistry background, has revived a family tradition that dates back to his great-grandfather, a Prohibition-era barkeep and sometime bootlegger from California’s Gold Country. The liqueur starts with Cutler’s seven times–distilled vodka and delivers the rich, enveloping flavors of spiced apples. Sip it neat or pour it over vanilla ice cream for a more indulgent treat. While keeping their day jobs, Camarillo neighbors Rick Quinn and Dave Nichols began crushing grapes at their Opolo Winery in Paso Robles with the 1999 vintage. Today, they also produce a line of exquisite fruit brandies and liqueurs, including Willow Creek Distillery Chamomile Liqueur ($55, willowcreekcraft.com), based on barrel-aged grappa infused with chamomile. (Quinn’s son Paul is the head distiller.) Chamomile, a soothing herb in the daisy family, is noted for its many medicinal properties, but the best reason to drink this charming cordial is simply because it’s delicious. Remember: Cordials are powerful spirits with a high alcohol content, so just a small dose is prescribed. To serve them properly, look for dedicated, footed cordial glasses that typically hold about two ounces and make a stylish statement on the dinner table.  JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

Taste Dining Out By Victoria Woodard Harvey Photographs by Gary Moss

A New Food Hangout The latest addition to The Collection at RiverPark, The Annex public market brings a fresh crop of eating experiences to Oxnard.

ike Place Market in Seattle, Boston Public Market, Grand Central Market in Los Angeles— public markets are as hip or historic, trendy or traditional as the cities they represent. In Ventura County, the new public market known as The Annex (thecollectionrp.com/the_annex) recently opened a 16,000-square-foot space within the shopping, dining, and entertainment destination The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard. It’s a great example of how a region’s best local restaurants can come together under one roof to become a community gathering place for dining, hanging out, and enjoying year-round cultural events like live music and open mic evenings. One way to start the adventure is at Seoul Sausage, where brothers Ted and Yong Kim of Food Network fame dish up original spins on traditional Korean home cooking. “Everything on the menu is what we like to eat,” says Yong, whose favorites are the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), tender thigh meat in batter, fried twice, and served with a spicy sweet gochujang sauce; and Kalbi Poutine, fashioned after the iconic Canadian specialty, with eight-hour braised short ribs served over crisp, hot tater tots smothered in a light pepper-jack cheese sauce, topped with avocado lime crema and a heap of pickled red onions. The popular Cali Dog is more like a sausage in a long bun with carne asada, onions, cilantro, tater tots, and a generous dose of zingy kimchi salsa, an adaptation the brothers developed while in school in San Diego. This is really good bar food, and it may be no accident that it’s conveniently located within The Annex a few steps from Bottle & Pint, the taproom that originated in Newbury Park, which offers a revolving selection of premium craft beers. Around the corner is the family-owned Taqueria El Tapatio. A classic Mexican grill with more than a dozen locations from Los Angeles to Roseville, it’s a perfect place to grab a taco or torta before a movie at the nearby Cineplex. PokeCeviche is another quick and easy option, with signature or custom bowls that include spicy fish, classic shrimp, or avocado scallop ceviche, with a variety of sauces and inventive toppings such as seaweed or crab salad, pico de gallo, or daikon sprouts. Nearby is the culinary domain of chef-owner Sandra Cordero, who brings a traditional tapas menu from her popular Gasolina Cafe in Woodland Hills to her new location Gasolina, the only full-service restaurant at The Annex. Diners can enjoy a beer or house-made sangria with dishes that represent the chef’s Spanish heritage, such as small plates of jamon croquetas, wrapped morcilla sausages with beets three ways, and Pilar’s albondigas, a meatball recipe from 94

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Options abound at The Annex (clockwise from above): Patrons place an order at Seoul Sausage, where winners of The Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race, season 3, brothers Ted and Yong Kim, share their takes on homestyle Korean fare; Pulpo Gallego from the tapas menu at Gasolina pairs grilled octopus with chorizo atop potato puree; a wide variety of dining options means there is something for every mood; owner Bee Nguyen brings cooking traditions from her Vietnamese roots to Love Pho Cafe; menus throughout the marketplace favor offerings from local regions; house-made is the watchword at Scratch Sandwich Counter; Sandra Cordero admires a favorite at Pancake, red wine–poached pear with pear cream and almond-crunch pancake.

Taste Dining Out Cordero’s mother. Next-door, chef Cordero honors her Dutch heritage with Pancake, an eatery focusing on a crepe-like treat modeled after a pannekoek, which she enjoyed while growing up in Amsterdam. Perfect for dessert, these cooked-to-order delicacies include the Nom Nom made with fresh berries and whipped cream, the Best of Both Worlds with thin apple slices and crisp bacon cooked into the batter, and savory options like the Paradiso with baby spinach and gouda cheese. One of the great things about The Annex is the variety of dining options, but this consortium of eateries mixed with retail businesses is much more than a standard food court. It took years to identify the best individually owned restaurants of the region for this original enterprise, and their owners seem to share a camaraderie as well as gratitude for the opportunity to branch out into broader territories.

This consortium of eateries mixed with retail businesses is much more than a standard food court.

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Over at Love Pho Cafe, with original locations in Camarillo and Newbury Park, the long lines are an indication of its dedicated, wider fan base. “It’s filling but very healthy,” explains owner Bee Nguyen, who by age 14 ran her mother’s restaurant in her native Vietnam. It’s the place to go for a good bahn mi or pho, the satisfying house special of a steaming bowl of noodles in a perfectly delicious broth cooked for hours with traditional Vietnamese spices. True to its name, Scratch Sandwich Counter offers a menu on which everything is made from scratch, including a variety of burgers featuring house-ground beef and sandwiches such as the house-smoked pastrami, thick cut and served on a caraway rye bun with house-made pickles, sweet mustard, and a side of handcut fries. A no-brainer, meatless choice is the Sabbich sandwich, which adorns a thick slice of roasted eggplant with black bean hummus, a fried egg, and an enticing salty-sweet pickled mango relish. Scratch pastries are quickly becoming a thing: The saltedcaramel apple pie garners praise, and a cookie with strawberries and cream pays homage to Oxnard’s renowned crop. For a healthy treat, The Blend Superfood Bar provides acai bowls, custom smoothies, and fresh-pressed juices. Owners, Hernan Lopez, an Ojai native, and Carina Thompson seek out fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients for their offerings, which include favorites like the Hawaiian and Peanut Butter Berry bowls. The raw juice Flu Shot is a made-to-order elixir of freshly squeezed lemon juice, ginger, oregano oil, and cayenne, the perfect winter pick-me-up. A key advantage to a place like The Annex is the multitude of possibilities it offers. Go to the nearby REI or Container Store, then stop in for a cup of responsibly sourced Costa Rican or Ethiopian Kayon Mountain coffee at Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, a family-run roasting company that originated in Newbury Park. Browse the CherryHills Market for curated gift items from the original location in Huntington Beach, plus hand-ground spice mixes, extra-virgin olive oils, and flavored vinegars to take home. Stop and chat with Emmanuel Garcia, the on-site owner and craftsman at the Sueño Jewelry Studio. The idea behind The Annex is to encourage people to come back and come often. It’s a community for the community as well as travelers passing through, and Oxnard is all the better for it. 

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 ANGEL OAK 8301 Hollister Ave. Santa Barbara, 805-968-0100 ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/ santa-barbara/dining/angel-oak Steaks & Seafood; Entrées $31 to Market Price

Great Views, Romantic Located on the grounds of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Angel Oak takes full advantage of its perch above the Santa Barbara County coastline and of the talents of chef Alexander Bollinger. The menu is modern steakhouse with a seafood twist—and guests can choose from among 12,000-bottles in the restaurant’s wine cellar.

ARTISAN 843 12th St. Paso Robles, 805-237-8084 artisanpasorobles.com New American; Entrées $14–$31

Vegetables from the restaurant’s own farm, sustainably raised meats, and an award-winning chef combine to form a temple of gastronomy in the heart of 805 wine country. Chef and co-owner Chris Kobayashi prepares seasonal food for daily dinners, and weekend brunches. An afternoon menu of small plates, woodfired pizzas, and drink specials is available daily at the bar. Chris’ wife, Shandi, matches excellent wines to her husband’s cuisine.

BELLA VISTA IN THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT The Biltmore Santa Barbara 1260 Channel Drive Santa Barbara, 805-969-2261 fourseasons.com/santabarbara/dining.html Californian and Italian Entrées and Sunday Brunch $20–$75

Great Views Named for its sweeping views of lawn, ocean, and sky, Bella Vista has a slightly 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 prime bistecca tagliata with

salsa verde and crispy potatoes. Weekly specials include a Seafood at Sunset menu of shucked oysters and barbecued shrimp. (At the adjacent Ty Lounge, Fossati’s Mussel Madness Tuesdays menu features the shellfish prepared six ways and presented in castiron bowls from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.) The wine list offers local and international labels. Afternoon tea is served on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and requires reservations; call 805-565-8237.

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.

CA’ DARIO 37 E. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, 805-884-9419 cadario.net Italian; Entrées $15–$32

At the corner of Victoria and Anacapa streets, Ca’ Dario is somewhat off the Santa Barbara tourist path. That doesn’t mean it isn’t jammed with people twirling forks laden with al dente pastas sauced in Bolognese, or tomatoes with olives and capers, or smoked salmon with peas and tomato and cream. The Ravioli al Burro e Salvia is a fine example of a spinach-ricotta ravioli sauced in browned butter and crispy sage leaves. Steaks, lamb chops, and breaded chicken breast are quite filling. There’s a fresh fish special daily and sometimes a wonderful seafood risotto. Wines from Italy and the Central Coast line the walls.

UPDATE 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-tobar cocktail menu and a wine list that includes several otherwise impossible-to-get bottles.

NEW 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.

In Santa Barbara, the space vacated last fall by Somerset has a new and more casual lease on life as Smithy Kitchen + Bar (smithysb.com). The name is inspired by the building’s original use as a blacksmith shop. The menu is forged by executive chef Lauren Herman’s way with local, seasonal ingredients following her previous stints at A.O.C. and Lucques in Los Angeles. Nothing on the menu— mussels and clams with shallots, crispy pork belly and bok choy, cavatelli with pork ragù, mustard greens, and tomato confit—is more than $20.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL WESTLAKE VILLAGE 2 Dole Drive Westlake Village, 818-575-3000 fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/dining Californian and Japanese; Entrées and Sunday Brunch $15–$72

Trained at Michelin-starred restaurants in his native Spain, executive chef Jose Fernandez brings a refined JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

The Dining Guide farm-and-ocean-to-table approach to the resort’s elegant dining rooms. At Hampton’s, posh furnishings and waterfall views are backdrops for a Champagne brunch buffet with live jazz on Sundays. The more casual Lobby Lounge features waterfall views with breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a Sustainable Living Menu. 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. Open Fridays through Sundays, The Tasting Room features California labels and a menu of wine-friendly nibbles. Sushi fans will want to visit Onyx, which gets its own write-up in the Foodie section of this guide. Valet parking is $7 with validation; selfparking is free for up to four hours with validation.

The sky’s the limit for the Winter Chef’s Dinner package available through February at Kimpton Canary Hotel (canarysantabarbara. com) in downtown Santa Barbara. The don’t-miss experience for foodies includes a three-course dinner for four, prepared by executive chef James Siao at Finch & Fork and served with local wines in the Canary Suite to those who book it for a night. After dinner, wander up to the hotel’s rooftop pool deck for a bird’s-eye view of the city. 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.

HOLDREN’S STEAKS & SEAFOOD 1714-A Newbury Road Newbury Park, 805-498-1314 and 512 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-965-3363 holdrens.com Steak House; Entrées $23–$49 (more for surf‑and-turf combos)

Romantic, Sunday Brunch The décor is sophisticated enough for business, while the lighting is low enough for romance. Comfy seating

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and friendly servers encourage lingering. Appetizers, like the bacon-wrapped prawns stuffed with feta cheese and jalapeño, are hearty enough to be main courses. Steaks are marbled, tender, and seasoned right. The signature Cowboy Cut is huge and sits atop a pile of spicy onion strings. All steaks come with sauce, a side dish, and a choice of soup or salad. Both locations are open for lunch on Monday through Friday; happy hour runs daily at both, on the patio and in the bar, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Newbury Park location serves a Sunday brunch menu of omelets, Tiki Toast, and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All meals are served inside or out on the patio at both locations.

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.

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

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.

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.) Décor 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 prix-fixe, familystyle 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.

THE RANCH HOUSE 102 Besant Road Ojai, 805-646-2360 theranchhouse.com Farm-to-table Prix fixe $45 for three courses, $55 for five

Romantic The Ranch House is much changed from the early 1950s, when it was founded as a pay-what-you-can vegetarian restaurant by Alan and Helen Hooker. But its sense of magic remains: A stream runs through the property, spilling into a koi pond with a bridge that leads to the gardens. Tables draped in white linens are tucked behind stands of bamboo throughout the garden and arranged on a sheltered patio strung with twinkle lights. (The table nearest the pond is a prime spot for marriage proposals.) The current menu channels the Hookers (who added meat to the menu in the 1960s) with prix-fixe dinners that continue to showcase local produce, some of it from the on-site herb garden. Don’t miss the braised pork belly appetizer, which might come with a sweet pineapple poppy sauce one season and other accompaniments the next. The wine list offers 600 imported and domestic labels. A note about the address: The Ranch House is located where South Lomita Avenue meets Besant Road, prompting Yelp and other online sources to place it at 500 S. Lomita Ave.

SABOR COCINA MEXICANA 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-497-2457 saborcocinamexicana.com Mexican; Entrées $14–$24

Romantic, Sunday Brunch It’s flashy and fancy—not your usual Mexican cocina. Eat in the bar area where huge margaritas are being blended, or on the front patio while people watching, or in the main dining room with the massive chandeliers strung with red glass hearts. Chef-owner Leticia Hansen turns out beautifully plated entrées like chicken enchiladas with Oaxacan cheese and cochinita pibil, which is pork in achiote sauce. Her partner and husband, Mark Hansen, makes sure the dining areas are running smoothly.

SAN YSIDRO RANCH 900 San Ysidro Lane Santa Barbara, 805-565-1700 sanysidroranch.com American; Entrées $18–$56 at Plow & Angel; $38–$63 at The Stonehouse; Sunday brunch $75

Great View, Romantic, Sunday Brunch The five-star treatment at this historic resort starts the minute you turn onto the long drive lined with olive trees and lavender; it continues as you are greeted by a valet who whisks away your car from the circular entrance to its two restaurants, both overseen by executive chef Matthew Johnson. At Plow & Angel,

Taste Paradise

February 23 - March 4, 2018 S B R E S TA U R A N T W E E K S . C O M

Wine and dine in your favorite restaurants throughout the beautiful American Riviera.Our Santa Barbara restaurant and hotel community will join together showcasing hospitality, service and chef’s talent using local product… farm to table style. Enjoy dining at Santa Barbara’s top restaurants for dinner

PRESENTED BY

Please visit our website to participate at sbrestaurantweeks.com

Sin

The Chase Restaurant

9 197 ce

Santa Barbara’s best Italian food since 1979

Bar & Grill

Join Us for a Great Santa Barbara Tradition USA Today Top 10 Most Romantic Santa Barbara Restaurant

Sunday – Thursday 11:00 am to 9:30 pm s Friday – Saturday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Happy Hour Monday – Friday 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

1012 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | chasebarandgrill.com | 805-965-4351

The Dining Guide the menu and setting are in keeping with a wellappointed tavern. Thick stone walls and a fireplace create a cozy space for enjoying barrel-aged cocktails and a menu of grilled flatbreads, beer-battered halibut and chips, and grilled New York steak with cognac peppercorn sauce. Upstairs, The Stonehouse dining room gleams with copper and burnished wood and has a sheltered terrace with views of Montecito. Seating is also available on outdoor patios below, furnished with a fireplace and fountain and flanked by loquat trees. At lunch, served Mondays through Saturdays, the rightfully famous BLTA is made with house-smoked bacon and Little Gem lettuce grown on the premises. A three-course market menu also emphasizes local ingredients. Served from 6 p.m. daily, the dinner menu includes house-made fettuccine with speck ham and carrot nage and Steak Diane prepared in the classic style—flambéed tableside. The list of wines and spirits is varied and deep. (Stonehouse is just one of 88 restaurants worldwide to earn the 2016 Grand Award from Wine Spectator.) Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes starters, entrées, desserts, and free-flowing LaurentPerrier Brut Champagne. At $75, it’s a steal.

TIERRA SUR RESTAURANT AT HERZOG WINE CELLARS 3201 Camino del Sol Oxnard, 805-983-1560 tierrasuratherzog.com New American; Entrées $16–$58 Wine-Tasting Menu $70

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, who’s also a fan of local, seasonal fare, maintains the Mediterranean vibe of the menu. Marinated olives, lamb bacon, and corn tortillas are made in-house. Tapas feature beet salad as well as pastrami and corned beef tongue. 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 kale and sous vide oyster mushrooms. Desserts are elegantly plated variations on sorbets and flourless chocolate cake. Surrounded by the coppery glow of the walls and the burnished-wood wine rack that frames the kitchen pass-through, diners may need to pinch themselves as a reminder that they’re at a kosher restaurant in an Oxnard industrial park. On Fridays, only lunch is served. The restaurant is closed on Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath.

UPDATE 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

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What better way to start the new year than by saving a few bucks while trying something—or someplace—new? During January, hundreds of restaurants, cafés, and wine bars from Mendocino to San Diego offer specially priced dishes, menus, and events as part of California Restaurant Month (visitcalifornia.com/california-restaurant-month), organized each year by Visit California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting state tourism. In the 805, participating restaurants in San Luis Obispo offer prix fixe meals throughout the month. Restaurant week promotions also are planned in Camarillo, Oxnard, Santa Maria, and the Santa Ynez Valley. Three-course meals at participating restaurants in Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys are priced at a celebratory $20.18 each.

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 décor, service, ambience, or even views. AZU 457 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-640-7987 azuojai.com Mediterranean-Californian, Gastropub Tapas and bar snacks $5–$16, Entrées $9–$32

Weekend Brunch A long, dark-wood bar dominates the front room at this popular lunch, dinner, and tapas spot, creating the perfect setting for the Ojai Valley Brewery taproom. Small-batch ales and lagers made with local botanicals by Jeremy Haffner, the son-in-law of owner and chef Laurel Moore, are available by the pint, tasting flight, and take-home growler. Pair them with gastropub fare such as tacos, flatbreads, and poutine topped with braised beef and salsa roja. Lunch and dinner options include falafel chiles rellenos, and a vegan paella of white beans, peas, cauliflower, broccolini, and artichoke hearts. Blueberry-lemon pancakes and croquette eggs Benedict with preserved lemon hollandaise are on the weekend brunch menu served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional seating is available on the sidewalk, in the brick-lined dining room, and—in warmer months—on a sheltered, ivy-covered back patio.

UPDATE 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.

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

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.

BELL STREET FARM EATERY & MARKET 406 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-4609 bellstreetfarm.com American; Entrées $10–$15

Kid-Friendly Farm-to-fork dining goes country chic at this spot in Santa Barbara County wine country. The tables are covered with butcher paper—the better to catch spills from glasses of regional wines while giving kids a canvas for crayon masterpieces. The deceptively simple menu features soups, salads, and sandwiches made with local produce, Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, and artisanal meats. Prepared on a rotisserie visible from the order counter, free-range chicken from Santa Clarita’s Huntsinger Ranch stars in the tamarind chickensalad sandwich served with house-pickled veggies. Assemble-your-own picnic baskets are available; ask about after-hours dinners with local vintners.

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

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,

The Dining Guide 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.

Named for its shave-ice treats topped with the flavorings of your choice, Shave It (shaveitcorp.com) in Thousand Oaks is rolling in a new menu item: Thai rolled ice cream. Popularized by street vendors in Southeast Asia, the Instagramready dessert is created by pouring a liquid ice-cream base onto a frozen metal plate, adding the desired extra ingredients (hello, Fruity Pebbles), flattening the mixture into thin sheets, then using a spatula to push those sheets into rolls served standing up in a cup. It’s almost as fun to watch rolled ice cream being made as it is to eat the results.

BOUCHON 9 W. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, 805-730-1160 bouchonsantabarbara.com Wine Country Cuisine; Entrées $26–$38

Romantic Bouchon celebrates the local, from its carefully curated wine list to the craftspeople overseeing the successful remodeling of the garden patio at the front entrance. Executive chef Greg Murphy follows suit, using farmers’ market ingredients in dishes like panroasted local white fish with wilted dandelion greens or a soup featuring white carrots from Tutti Frutti Farms. (Murphy’s Foodie Stroll menu includes a tour of the Tuesday farmers’ market followed by a threecourse meal with wine for $95 per person.) Add the gracious presence of proprietor Mitchell Sjerven and you have the ingredients for the first Santa Barbaraarea restaurant in a decade to earn the AAA Four Diamond award for excellence.

NEW CAFÉ FICELLE 390 S. Mills Road Ventura, 805-941-3444 cafeficelle.com French; Baked goods, $2–$9; Entrées $10–$17

Saturday & Sunday Brunch With rustic loaves of bread and flaky pain au chocolat, Café Ficelle is Ventura’s answer to that charming boulangerie-patisserie you discovered the last time you were in Paris. Baked goods change with the seasons and artisanal whims of co-owner

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Bryan Scofield and son-in-law and executive baker Jarrett Chambers. Breakfast items include crepes, avocado toast, and house-made granola. Lunch features soups, salads, and sandwiches made on titular ficelles (thin loaves of French bread). Craft beers and local and imported wines are available for DIY pairings with the Evening Faire dinner menu of French specialties (think escargots, pommes soufflés, and beef Bourguignonne) available on Thursdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brunch from 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays is à la carte, with mimosas and Ficelle Royales.

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 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.

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

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 house-made 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.

FINCH & FORK 31 W. Carrillo St. Santa Barbara, 805-879-9100 finchandforkrestaurant.com American; Entrées $10–$35

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 James Siao. Creative starters, flatbreads, salads, and entreés 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 Siao’s famous buttermilk fried chicken on Tuesdays and a new pork dish every Thursday. The happy hour menu is so good they offer it twice a day on Mondays through Fridays: Early Bird is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Night Flight is from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Both feature drinks and snacks starting at $3. Go ahead and splurge on the $8 S&P wings, tossed in a sweet chili glaze and served with pickled celery.

FIRST & OAK 409 First St. Solvang, 805-688-1703 firstandoak.com California French Small Plates $8–$19, Entrées $34–$38

Named for its address, this restaurant inside the newly renovated Mirabelle Inn is a showcase for the talents of British-born executive chef Steven Snook, a veteran of the Michelin Star–rated kitchens of Gordon Ramsay. Snook marries classic and molecular gastronomy techniques with local ingredients, creating a small plates–focused menu that changes with the seasons. Artful platings of butternut squash soup poured over brown-butter sage tortellini as well as sous vide carrots with a 63-degree (Celsius) egg echo the drama of the Belle Époque–inspired dining room. For spring, heirloom tomato consommé is ramped up with vegetables and preserved lemon and a spring wedge salad showcases baby gem lettuce, topping it with green goddess dressing, fresh herbs, and pistachios. (Outdoor patio seating is also available.) Co-owner, sommelier, and general manager Jonathan Rosenson oversees the wine list, which includes selections from his family’s Coquelicot Estate Vineyard, also in Solvang, along with other Santa Barbara County labels. France, Italy, Germany, and New Zealand are represented, too. Call for news about winemaker dinners.

UPDATE 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 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 graband-go options for impromptu picnics.

INDUSTRIAL EATS 181 Industrial Way Buellton, 805-688-8807 industrialeats.com New American; Entrées $6–$20

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 floating sausages, carrots, and wine glasses. At night, a neon “Eats” sign points to the front door. Inside, you’ll find imported cheeses, house-cured meats, and locally sourced dishes by New West Catering owner and executive chef Jeff Olsson, making his debut as restaurateur. Frequent changes to the menu are noted by pull-down rolls of butcher paper behind the deli counter. Woodfire pizzas can be simple (rosemary with Parmesan) or adventurous (crispy pig’s ear salad with sriracha and an egg cracked on top). “Not Pizza” selections include veal sweetbreads with arugula and a beef tongue pastrami Reuben. Press Gang Cellars is among the local labels with wines on tap.

NEW 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.

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, a communal table atop vintage radiators, and private booths fashioned from church pews. As culinary conductor, executive chef Jason Paluska oversees a thoroughly modern menu that highlights local ingredients. Deviled eggs with jalapeño and crispy pancetta are popular starters to shared plates of roasted chicken served with black-pepper grits and black garlic-glazed lamb shank, depending on the season. Craft brews and wines by the glass extend the artisanal spirit into the bar. Desserts by pastry chef Jeff Haines include honey cremeux with spice-roasted strawberries, pistachio crumble, lemon curd, and smoked vanilla ice cream.

LES MARCHANDS WINE BAR & MERCHANT 131 Anacapa St., Suite B Santa Barbara, 805-284-0380 lesmarchandswine.com European; Small Plates $8–$16; Entrées $18–$30

Weekend Brunch The vibe is Parisian bistro, but selections at this combination wine bar, 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 (you’re also welcome to bring in a pizza from the nearby Lucky Penny). Dinner is served daily from 5 p.m. Monday Night Chicken & Waffles features Richards’ lemon-brined fried chicken and sourdough waffles with house-made butter and hot sauce. Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. offers dishes such as shakshuka (a Middle Eastern poachedegg dish) and tres leches French toast.

UPDATE LIDO AT DOLPHIN BAY 2727 Shell Beach Road Pismo Beach, 805-773-8900 thedolphinbay.com/lido Californian; Entrées $16–$46

Great View, Saturday & Sunday Brunch Executive chef Kurt Steeber brings his eye for seasonal ingredients to a menu that echoes the creativity of the art glass displayed in Lido’s dining room. A baby beet salad is served with white bean puree and walnut chutney, while an appetizer of local octopus appears with linguica, fingerling potatoes confit, and black olive aioli. The casual portion of the menu offers fennel sausage pizza and Teixeira Cattle Co. beef burgers; plates range from slow-cooked chicken breast and roasted chanterelle mushroom ragout to a decadent filet of beef tenderloin with smoked blue cheese. Saturday and Sunday brunch

The Dining Guide

Photo: Andrea DeAnda

from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. features a threecourse plated brunch with bottomless mimosas as well as à la carte dishes.

NEW LOQUITA 202 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-880-3380 loquitasb.com Modern Spanish; Entrées $19–$42 Great Patio

BEACH WEDDINGS · OCEAN VIEW RECEPTIONS OUTDOOR TERRACES · ON SITE WEDDING COORDINATION

Contact Lauren McIntyre: 805.250.5220 100 Ocean View Ave. Pismo Beach, CA SeaVenture.com

Photo: Town & Country Studios

MAD & VIN 1576 Mission Drive Solvang, 805-688-3121 thelandsby.com Eclectic; Entrées $16–$34

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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.

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This restaurant located inside one of Solvang’s newest hotels 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 cheese fondue starter of melted Gruyère and fontina touched with brandy and the Nordic Caesar salad of local greens, white shrimp, and warm cheese croutons. At dinner, the lamb porterhouse with mint chimichurri and seafood hot pot, paired with selections from the primarily Santa Barbara County wine list, are not to be missed. Open from 4 p.m. on weekdays and from noon on Saturdays and Sundays, the bar is a Scandinavian-chic spot to meet friends for cocktails, like The Countess (think vodka, blood-orange shrub, and rhubarb bitters) and for bites that range from small, such as herbed olives, to large, like a rib-eye burger that also appears on the dinner menu.

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

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

NEW THE NEST 401 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-798-9035 Californian; Entrées $8–$15

Don’t let the order-at-the-window casualness fool you: The Nest serves high-quality fare with options for vegans and carnivores, plus craft cocktails that change with the seasons. Chef and co-owner Kiona Wachter is an Ojai native, a fact that turns up in such dishes as The Tireman, a brisket sandwich named for her uncle’s tire business in nearby Oak View, and in the Tico Salad, sprinkled with Fritos corn chips just as it was when her father and godmother served it at their Nest of Ojai restaurant more than 20 years ago. Pizzas, rice bowls, cauliflower tacos, shave ice, and desserts round out the menu. Indoor seating is limited; the most popular spot for dining is the semisheltered patio, which offers views of the Topa Topa mountain range.

OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA 905 Country Club Road Ojai, 805-646-1111 ojairesort.com Various cuisines Entrées $11–$60; Saturday Buffet Brunch $29; Sunday Bluegrass Brunch $49

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 and Vine features California cuisine with a Northern Italian twist that comes courtesy of chef de cuisine Andrea Rodella. 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 monthly winemaker dinners. Start the evening with small bites and craft cocktails, both made with local ingredients as often as possible, 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 options include the tranquil Spa Café in Spa Ojai, where light breakfast and spa lunch are served inside or on the spa’s poolside terrace. The Oak is famous for its casual but attentive lunch service on a shaded patio overlooking the 10th hole. 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 pizzas, burgers, microbrews, and barrel-aged cocktails. Next door, Libbey’s Market + Boutique is the place to go for a quick sandwich and a scoop of McConnell’s ice cream.

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

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.

ONYX AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL WESTLAKE VILLAGE Two Dole Drive Westlake Village, 818-575-3000 onyxrestaurant.com Japanese; Entrées $15–$45

Romantic, Great View A master at sushi, chef Masa Shimakawa also serves modern Japanese fare inspired by his training in Japan and influences from Thailand, China, and beyond. Cocktails and sake flights are available to pair with artfully prepared crab-and-smoked salmon rolls and with such dishes as roasted black cod and beef sirloin grilled in hoba leaves. Dinner is served Mondays through Saturdays at the sushi bar on the patio overlooking the resort’s waterfall and in the stylish dining room decorated with saltwater aquariums and the restaurant’s titular stone.

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

Weekend Brunch The mint-condition Airstream trailer parked out front is one sign that The

Goodland hotel is not the Holiday Inn it once was. Another is the menu at Outpost, the on-site restaurant guided by executive chef James Siao, who also holds that title at sister restaurant Finch & Fork in Santa Barbara. At Outpost, Siao offers playful takes on classics like guacamole (served with toasted pumpkin seed gremolata) and pork ribs (in a chipotle-pomegranate glaze with popcorn polenta on the side). Local wines, beers, and craft cocktails are great for sipping poolside, in the dining room, and at the hotel’s The Good Bar, which offers meal-worthy snacks. Happy hour specials are available on Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ramen is a Sunday-night thing from 5 p.m. until while supplies last. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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PARADISE PANTRY 218 and 222 E. Main St. Ventura, 805-641-9440 paradisepantry.com Rustic; Entrées $9–$22

Sunday Brunch This combination café, wine shop, and cheese store occupies adjoining storefronts in Ventura’s historic downtown. Both spaces feature original brick walls and delightfully creaky wood floors. While 218 E. Main St. is devoted to wine sales and cheese and charcuterie displays, 222 offers wine tasting and soups, salads, cheese plates, and pâté samplers. Panini-style sandwiches include the Italiano, packed with arugula and truffle cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. (That’s right: The meat is on the outside.) Named for chef and co-owner Kelly Briglio, Kel’s Killer Mac is made with a new over-the-top combination of ingredients each week. (Gluten-free options are available.) Typically scheduled once a month, Sunday brunch features such dishes as Kel’s crab cakes with Meyer lemon crème fraîche, and French toast made with cinnamon brioche. Join the email list for news of upcoming popup appearances by visiting chefs and winemakers.

UPDATE 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

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The Dining Guide

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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.

UPDATE 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

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 house-made 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 mi-inspired 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.

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

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.

UPDATE S.Y. KITCHEN 1110 Faraday St. Santa Ynez, 805-691-9794 sykitchen.com Italian; Entrées $17–$37

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 and a warm octopus salad with olives, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes. A lunch menu of salads, pastas, and oak-grilled meats and seafood is served daily. Also originally from Italy, mixologist and bar manager Alberto Battaglini makes his own bitters and stashes away dried fruits and herbs in glass jars that double as décor. The wine list features local and Italian labels. Available Mondays through Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Aperitivo menu offers special pricing on beer, wine, cocktails, and light bites.

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 black-and-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 pizza-bread 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. 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.

UPDATE WINE CASK 813 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-966-9463 winecask.com Wine Country Cuisine Entrées $24–$38; Chef’s tasting menu $75 for five courses, $95 for eight courses

Romantic Founded in 1981, the Wine Cask reinvents itself every time executive chef Brandon Cogan goes to the farmers’ market in Santa Barbara. Local ingredients inform dishes at every turn, especially in the tasting menus that change weekly and sometimes nightly but almost always feature Santa Barbara County labels in the optional wine pairings. The regular dinner menu is a mix of seasonal mains and classical mains, the latter a collection of longtime favorites like wild mushroom risotto and pan-roasted local white sea bass. Desserts echo the elegant simplicity of the restaurant itself (bread pudding with bourbon–salted caramel sauce is a standout). California wines are the focus of the international wine list. Co-owner and vintner Doug Margerum also has one tasting room adjoining the restaurant, and a second, devoted to reserve wines, located elsewhere in the same complex.

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A Good Bet Not too fancy, not too expensive, and a good experience all around. 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

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The Dining Guide 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.

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

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

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 takeout orders. Brent’s Deli is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

ELADIO’S RESTAURANT & BAR 1 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-963-4466 harborviewinnsb.com American; Entrées $12–$25

Great View, Saturday & Sunday Brunch It’s tough to beat the view of the wharf and the ocean from the open, spacious patio with a fountain in the middle. Eladio’s whips up breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily for guests of the Harbor View Inn and anyone else who stops in. Morning staples include vanilla-dipped brioche French toast, crab cake Benedict, and smoked salmon scramble made with locally smoked fish. New England clam chowder, cheeseburgers, ahi salad with mango salsa, and fish-and-chips in a Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Double Barrel Ale batter show up at lunchtime. Pasta, JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

FINNEY’S CRAFTHOUSE & KITCHEN 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 2 Westlake Village, 805-230-9950 finneyscrafthouse.com American; Entrées $10–$25

Kid-Friendly The “craft beer spoken here” neon sign at the back of the dining room doesn’t quite say it all at this casual but polished gastropub owned by Greg Finefrock, a 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. 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. Other options include tacos, salads, and flatbread pizzas (don’t miss the prosciutto and grilled pineapple combo). Families and other groups will gravitate to the communal tables available inside and on the patio. Seating is first-come, firstserved at the copper bar.

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

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steaks, and fresh fish round out the dinner menu. Happy hour specials are available daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ojai’s historic Arcade is the setting for this light-filled 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 WESTLAKE PLAZA 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. Locally sourced and seasonal ingredients shine in executive chef Daniel Buss’ house-made potato gnocchi with sautéed kale and English peas, roasted jalapeño and chicken flatbread, and the Chef’s Daily Catch with vegetables. The For Kids by Kids children’s menu features dishes created by Haile Thomas, host of the YouTube series Plant-Powered 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.

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 Dr. 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.

LINN’S RESTAURANT 2277 Main St. Cambria, 805-927-0371 linnsfruitbin.com American; Entrées $10–$34

Kid-Friendly What started as a farm stand is now a family-owned business that includes a restaurant, a gift shop, a café that specializes in freshly baked fruit pies, and the original farm stand, for those on a sentimental journey. No visit to Cambria is complete without at least one breakfast, lunch, or dinner spent at the combination bakery and restaurant, located in the seaside town’s historic East Village. Berries are a recurring theme on the menu, appearing in fruit-filled scones, glasses of olallieberry lemonade, and the raspberry-orange-cranberry sauce served with roasted Shelton Farm chicken. Executive chef Matt Beckett is as skilled at whipping up comfort food classics (think beef Stroganoff and chicken potpie) as he is with gluten-free options and dishes featuring grass-fed beef from Hearst Ranch.

UPDATE 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 No. 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-atthe-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.

Wine Tasting | Open Daily 11am - 5pm www.biddleranch.com | 805.543.2399 2050 Biddle Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo, CA

MERSEA’S 3985 Avila Beach Drive Avila Beach, 805-548-2290 merseas.com Seafood; Entrées $8–$15

Great View, Kid-Friendly Located on the Harford Pier, this modern take on a casual seafood restaurant offers a lot of sightseeing bang for the buck. Indoor tables are placed near tall windows, and outdoor seating includes a row of colorful bar-stools at a counter that doubles as the pier’s railing for a stretch. (Look down: You just might spy an otter frolicking in the kelp.) The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burritos, but seafood is the star at this spot operated by members of the family behind Dorn’s Original Breakers Café in Morro Bay and Duckie’s Chowder House in Cayucos. Highlights include a crab melt sandwich with avocado, chowders of both the Manhattan and New England variety, and daily specials like garlic fries topped with blackened shrimp, blue cheese, and avocado. Decorated with whimsical octopus pendant lamps, the bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails.

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 JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

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The Dining Guide Outrageous Beef Salad with a spicy lime dressing and the protein-rich Yam Yai salad with shrimp, chicken, egg, and peanuts in a sweet-and-sour 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.

Farmer. Miller. Baker. Pasta maker. Andrea Crawford of Roan Mills (roanmills.com) lists each of these job titles on her business’ website. But she hasn’t quite gotten around to adding the newest one: Shopkeeper. Crawford, who grows and mills the organic heritage grains used in the artisanal breads she sells at farmer’s markets throughout Los Angeles County, has unveiled a twice-a-week retail space at her wholesale bakery in historic downtown Fillmore. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the shop attracts lines for Crawford’s Sonora wheat baguettes, lemon-zest scones, and pizzettas topped with local produce. Worried about getting there in time to purchase your favorite loaf? Use the preorder tab on the website before jumping in the car.

PUBLIC SCHOOL 805 120 Promenade Way, Suite A Westlake Village, 805-379-3909 psontap.com American; Entrées $8–$28

Saturday & Sunday Brunch Named for the area code and the goal of offering guests “an education in the art of food and beer,” this gastropub makes the most of its schoolyard theme. Baseball mitts decorate one wall and happy hour is known as “recess.” (It’s also known as a bargain: Meal-worthy bites are just $4 to $6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays). More than 40 craft beers, most on rotating taps, are available to pair with executive chef Phil Kastel’s inventive fare. He earns extra credit for adding crispy fried capers to an appetizer of salmon “pastrami” carpaccio. Burgers, salads, and wood-fired flatbreads are lunch and dinner options; fried Jidori chicken and waffles are on the breakfast menu, available from 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Organize your own field trips to Public School 612 in downtown Los Angeles and Public School 310 in Culver City.

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

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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.

TOSCANOVA 4799 Commons Way, Suite A Calabasas, 818-225-0499 calabasas.toscanova.com Italian; Entrées $15–$44

Garden View, Romantic Like its sister site at the Westfield Century City shopping mall, this restaurant at the Commons at Calabasas re-creates the feel of a Tuscan getaway without the airfare. In Calabasas, diners have the option of lounging around a patio fire pit or sitting at a table overlooking a garden that is a draw for barefoot children at play on the grass. On the menu set by owner and founding chef Agostino Sciandri is a section devoted just to mozzarella (burrata with sautéed eggplant, anyone?) as well as a pizza topped with seasonal truffles, house-made pappardelle with wild mushrooms, and grilled sliced filet mignon with baby arugula and shaved Parmesan. Lunch adds sandwiches and flatbread pizza to the mix. The bar is the place to be on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., when your first order of the featured beverage is 5 cents.

Fun, Fun, Fun Look to these eateries for

festive food, an upbeat atmosphere, and a good time. ANDRIA’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET 1449 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, 805-654-0546 andriasseafood.com Seafood; Entrées $8–$24

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.

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

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 semi-private 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.

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 prosciutto-wrapped 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 & 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 décor 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.

UPDATE 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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-and-match 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 chile-marinated 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.

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

Jack’s Bistro

Famous Bagels & Catering www.bagelnet.com santa barbara 53 S Milpas St. (805) 564 – 4331 M – F 6am – 4pm | Sat – Sun 7am – 3pm

carpinteria 5050 Carpinteria Ave. (805) 566 – 1558 M – F 6:30am – 3pm | Sat – Sun 7am – 3pm Justen, Director of Catering justencater@cox.net (805) 319 – 0155 | (805) 566 – 1558 x4

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.

NEW WICKED’S BREW 4561 Market St., Suite C Ventura, 805-275-2334 wickedsbrew.com Eclectic; Entrées $20–$38 Live Music; Saturday & Sunday Brunch

A playful sense of theatricality adds spice to this combination café, coffeehouse, and gift shop located in a Ventura business park. Owner Gwendolyn Zero’s entertainment-industry background is especially evident during regularly scheduled Wicked Dinners, thematic affairs that feature live music, special menus, and servers who may or may not be who they say they are. Everyday meals served on Wednesdays through Sundays are pretty special, too: Sauces, condiments, and dressings are made in-house, and area farms and ranches get shout-outs on a menu that includes baked goods and egg dishes at breakfast and an array of soups, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads at lunch. Steamed mussels with white wine and crostini and prosciutto-strawberry bruschetta are two of the appetizers on the Witching Hour menu, and coffeecrusted Watkins Cattle Co. short ribs are among the dinner menu options. Adding to the fun: Sparkling Potions, aka cocktails made with wine, hard cider, or champagne. Bottled beer is also available.  JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2018 / 805LIVING.COM

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Westlake Village | $15,500,000

Sherwood Country Club | $7,995,000

Sherwood Country Club | $4,795,000

Montecito | $2,985,000

Montecito | $2,595,000

Sherwood Country Club | $2,388,000

Santa Ynez | Land $1,295,000

Los Olivos | $949,000

ENGEL&VÖLKERS Westlake Village

ENGEL&VÖLKERS Santa Barbara

960 S. Westlake Blvd. Ste. 10 Westlake Village, Ca 91361 818.889.1602 westlakevillage.evusa.com calBRE 01910946

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©2017 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.