Stay Ojai — Hotels Guide

BLUE IGUANA INN & SUITES Spanish-style inn offering rooms, suites & cottages with Southwest décor. Easy access to the Ojai Valley Trail. 11794 Ventura Ave | (805) 646-5277 blueiguanainn.com

CAPRI MOTEL Hip, quirky option with retro rooms and cool pool scene. Free Wi-Fi 1180 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-4305 hotelojai.com

CARAVAN OUTPOST A beautifully curated garden of Airstreams, located in the heart of Ojai. Free wi-fi, nightly entertainment, dog friendly, complimentary bicycles, camp store. Instagram: @caravanoutpost Web: caravanoutpost.com 317 Bryant Street I (805) 836-4891.

CHANTICO INN & SUITES Relaxed, cozy rooms in a Mission-style hotel offering free breakfast & WiFi, plus an outdoor pool. 406 West Ojai Ave | (805) 646-8100 chanticoinnsuites.com

EMERALD IGUANA INN Upscale inn with lush gardens, pool, hot tub, spa services, breakfast, & rooms with local artwork. 108 Pauline St | (805) 646-5277 emeraldiguana.com

HUMMINGBIRD INN Lodge-like inn offering modern, casual rooms, plus free wi-fi breakfast, & an outdoor pool. Across the street from Soule Park Golf Course. 1208 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-4365 hummingbirdinnojai.com

LAVENDER INN Quaint bed-and-breakfast in an 1874 building featuring country-style rooms, plus a spa, yoga & cooking classes. In the heart of downtown Ojai. 210 East Matilja St | (805) 646-6635 lavenderinn.com

THE OAKS AT OJAI Serene weight-loss retreat offering 3 meals daily, plus a wellness spa & free fitness classes. 122 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-5573 oaksspa.com

OJAI RANCHO INN Borders Ojai Valley Trail, easy stroll to downtown. Hip, rustic-style inn offering country-chic rooms, plus free Wi-fi, a pool & a sauna. 615 West Ojai Ave | (805) 646-1434 ojairanchoinn.com

OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA Upscale Spanish-style hacienda with contemporary rooms & a spa, pool, golf & several restaurants. One of California’s premier destinations. 905 Country Club Road | (855) 697- 8780 ojairesort.com

OAKRIDGE INN Functional budget hotel offering an outdoor pool, plus complimentary continental breakfast & WiFi. 780 North Ventura Ave | (805) 649- 4018 oakridgeinn.com

OJAI RETREAT Serene, hilltop bed-and-breakfast offering traditional rooms, some with terraces, plus a buffet breakfast & yoga. 160 Besant Road | (805) 646-2536 ojairetreat.com

PEPPER TREE RETREAT & EDUCATION CENTER An oasis for the mind in a peaceful setting where individuals, couples and small groups can relax and enjoy the beauty of the valley. 1130 McAndrew Road (877) 355-5986 peppertreeretreat.com

SU NIDO INN Artfully designed, Mission-style inn with traditional rooms, with stunning courtyard, an easy walk to downtown. Free Wi-Fi 301 North Montgomery Street (805) 646-7080 sunidoinn.com

CHEF RANDY

Za’atar-Coated Eggplant

This za’atar-coated eggplant is earthy, spicy, and delicious. What is za’atar, you ask? Za’atar is the Arabic word for thyme and also for a Middle Eastern spice mix. The main ingredient of the spice mix is — you guessed it — fresh thyme. I’m told that when za’atar is mixed with olive oil and eaten with warm pita bread, it sharpens the mind. You can find za’atar spice at Middle Eastern food stores, or you can make your own. I like to make my own. I also like the technique of scoring the eggplant. By scoring the eggplant, the inside will be soft, but where the scores meet, the top will be crisp. It creates a nice contrast of soft and crispy textures that, when rubbed with the za’atar spice mix, are guaranteed to make you smile.

Randy Graham is a writer, author, and private chef. He enjoys cooking for friends and family using ingredients from backyard vegetable and herb gardens. His food is often called “vegetarian comfort food.” He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog, Willow. Robin and Willow are not vegetarians.

Healthy Quick + Easy

Winter Vegan INGREDIENTS: ZA-ATAR EGGPLANT 1 large globe eggplant .5 teaspoon salt 5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons za’atar spice (*see recipe below if you want it fresh) 1 clove garlic (minced) 2 tablespoons parsley (chopped) 1.5 cups cooked rice Pita bread

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the eggplant in half, then score deeply with diagonal crosshatching at one-inch intervals. Be careful not to cut through the skin. Season each cut side with 1/2-teaspoon salt sprinkling it inside the scored areas if possible. Mix olive oil, za’atar spice, and garlic together. Rub one tablespoon of the za’atar paste into the top of each crosshatched eggplant slice and place the slices on the prepared baking sheet cut side up. Place sheet in the middle of the oven and bake for one hour, rotating the sheet after 30 minutes. After an hour, pierce with a fork. If they are very tender and juicy, they are done. If not, bake for another ten minutes and check again. Remove the eggplant from the oven. Garnish the eggplant with parsley and plate with cooked rice on the side. Oh … and don’t forget to bring warm pita bread to the table!

*Za’atar Spice Mix Ingredients: 4 tablespoon fresh thyme (leaves stripped from stems) 1 tablespoon ground sumac 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds .5 teaspoon fine sea salt DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place the thyme leaves on a baking sheet and bake for about ten minutes or until just dry. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the thyme leaves. Remove thyme from the mortar to a small prep dish and set aside. Place the sumac and salt in the mortar and grind until fine. Add the thyme leaves back in and grind the sumac, salt, and thyme together. Add the sesame seeds and stir to combine. Store in an airtight at room temperature until ready to use. This recipe makes about six tablespoons.