This 5br/4.5ba home is situated on 3½ acres and surrounded by spectacular mountain views. An over 4,000 square foot main home boasts sprawling great rooms, soaring ceilings, a formal dining room, a wine closet and a massive stone fireplace. The grounds include a spacious guest house and a gorgeous rock pool/spa. This very private property affords the perfect mix of country living while also being mere minutes from all the amenities of downtown Ojai.
420SaddleLaneOjai.com
Offered at $3,500,000
Over 25 years of experience matching people and property in the Ojai Valley
This adorable, 3br/2ba downtown, mid-century modern has been recently updated. It has beautiful tile floors, wood beam/plank ceilings, large windows, and a unique fireplace. The kitchen is spacious and open to the living/dining area; the bathrooms are fresh and clean. The grounds include a fenced front yard, a spacious back patio, raised beds, citrus trees, roses and a mature oak. A separate, enclosed carport has hookups for washer/dryer.
711DrownAveOjai.com
Offered at $1,285,000
home
heart
OVLC has permanently protected 2,400 acres of open space and maintains 27 miles of trail for all to enjoy. This is all done with donations from you—our community.
El OVLC ha protegido permanentemente 2.400 acres de áreas naturales y mantiene 27 millas de senderos para el disfrute de todos. Todo esto se hace con sus donaciones—nuestra comunidad.
"I feel that quarantine has brought me closer to other people, to everyone. Like, we are all finally on the same page now. " —
C. JoyBell C.It's festival season in Ojai; "The Ojai" Tennis Tournament ran at full tilt for the first time since the pandemic, and the Ojai Music Festival (June 8-11) if pre-sale tickets are an indication of excitement, promises to be among the best-attended yet. An enormous talent like Rhiannon Giddens will do that for you. It's been a long way through the murk since March of 2020, and now that the sky has cleared, I hope we take away a few useful, and sustainable, lessons.
One is that Ojai is resilient. We learned that as the ashes were still swirling after the Thomas Fire. The torrents of fellow feeling and support that emerged with our self-organized mutual aid and stories of fast friendships forged in fire, are a long ways behind us now. Witness the bitterness stirred up during the 2022 election season, by far the worst in my nearly quarter-century in this town. We know that our unity is still there beneath the surface, though. Wouldn't it be something if it didn't take a disaster to access it?
The lake level rose nearly half its capacity, from nearly 25 percent at the lowest point of the drought to nearly 75 percent this year; another such year as last and we will see the water spilling over the dam for the first time since 2005. Conservation measures have been lifted, but I hope the sense of restraint and living within our means continues. While the Ojai Valley averages 20 inches per year, that is because for every year like this where we get 40 inches, there are two years where we get 10 inches or less.
As you might imagine, tourism is the engine that drives our economy. Between sales tax from the 7.25 percent collected and the transient occupancy tax from hotels, that $4.5 million (or so) each year is 40 percent (or more) of the city's operating revenue. We recovered quickly after the Thomas Fire and the 2020 lockdowns, but it was not guaranteed at the time. Ask any merchant in the Arcade or nearby. It felt like a ghost town for weeks. And while we knew visitors wouldn't stay away, in fact they needed some Ojai in their lives more than ever, the return of the "new-ish normal" felt abstract and distant. It hasn't truly felt the same since the Oaks at Ojai hotel closed during the Thomas Fire. It is still in its years-long Phoenix phase, rising from those choking clouds of smoke. The El Roblar Hotel, we can comfortably assume, will bring even more allure and grace to downtown, elevating our presence throughout the region, especially with the Playhouse Theater across the street re-opening, a new nexus where locals and visitors will interact.
There's been a lot going on these past five-and-a-half years, not all of it good. But I think that by and large we recognize these malign energies and those who spread them for the disruptive force that it is. We predict Ojai will regress to a mean that is balanced, friendly, welcoming and with open minds and hearts. While past performance is no guarantee of future results, it is a clue.
When a healthcare need arises, we rise to the occasion.
A well-funded hospital is the heart of a healthy community. The Ojai Valley Hospital Foundation is here to anticipate your needs and ensure that Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai and its Continuing Care Center have the resources to meet them. We raise funds to make facility improvements, purchase advanced medical technologies, and launch new programs and services. And we make sure to keep you informed about the healthcare offerings and enhancements we help fund. Because when it comes to staying healthy, staying connected is key.
Learn more at mycmh.org/giving or call 805-948-2317.
MAY 5-28
“Disappearing Act”
Location: 113 South Montgomery Street
Time: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Contact: 805-646-0117
OjaiArtCenter.org
Ojai based actor/writer Peter Fox stirs up a spellbinding brew of prestidigitation and discovery. A young magician, a beautiful woman, and a mysterious stranger materialize in this exciting new mixture of magic and theater.
MAY 12
Sid the Cat Presents Bonny Doon
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Ojai Valley Woman’s Club
441 East Ojai Avenue
Contact: SidtheCat.com
Bonny Doon emerged in 2014, its four members pivoting away from their punk origins to create something restrained and steeped in contemplation.
MAY 14
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Location: Libbey Bowl
Times: Gates open at 5 p.m., headliner at 7 p.m.
Contact: 888-645-5006
boxoffice@wmmts.com
Since forming in Ventura in the early 1990s, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have sold more than 2 million records and toured extensively, performing more than 150
shows a year. Saxophonist and Ojai resident Karl Hunter is a founding member.
MAY 27-28
Art in the Park
Location: Libbey Park, downtown
Times: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: 805-320-7933
OjaiArtCenter.org.
This annual tradition was started in 1977 by local artists to create an event in which artists could interact directly with the public. Includes a juried fine art show.
TO JUNE 11
Alfred Wallis Exhibit
Dates: Thursdays through Sundays
Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
Location: 311 N. Montgomery
Contact: 805-798-9301
info@canvasandpaper.org
JUNE 8-11
Ojai Music Festival with Rhiannon Giddens
Dates: Thursday through Sunday
Times: All Day
Locations: Libbey Bowl and various local venues.
Rhiannon Giddens returns to Ojai, this year as the Music Director. An integral part of the immersive Ojai Festival experience are the free community activities that occur in the Libbey Park and throughout Ojai. This will include Morning Meditations, Music Pop-Ups, and a Family Concert.
RECURRING EVENTS
Historical Walking Tours of Ojai
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: canvas & paper gallery Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue. Contact: 640-1390
THURSDAYS
“ Ojai: Talk of the Town” Podcast New episodes come out Thursday evenings through OjaiHub.com newsletter. Guests have included Malcolm McDowell on the 50th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange,” and Sergio Aragones on his 60 years as a cartoonist at Mad Magazine. Sign up at OjaiHub.com for a free newsletter of Ojai events, news, arts, entertainment, history and culture.
Randy Graham was happily working as a server at an upscale hotel/restaurant when he was given an offer he COULD refuse
Vegetarian chef extraordinaire, Randy was raised in Hayward, California in Alameda County along with his brother, John, and sister, Donna. His dad, Bruce Graham, worked in the Geary Ford Parts Department and mom, Marie Graham, neé Eidsmore, was a manager of a dental office.
As a kid, Randy discovered the Tom Swift books and devoured them all. At 15 he moved on to short stories in pulp fiction magazines, such as Amazing Stories and Analog Science Fiction Heinlein, Asimov and Bradbury became his favorite writers. He loved the way they used language to create tales that inspired his imagination.
After graduating from Hayward High, Randy moved south
to attend U.C. Santa Barbara, then returned north to graduate from U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Hitting the southbound freeway again, Randy earned a Masters’ degree in Public Administration at San Diego State University.
While at SDSU his life took a culinary turn when he became a vegetarian. He was working part-time in a small library on campus and learned that his co-workers eschewed meat. He had taken a nutrition course in Berkeley, and had attended lectures focused on vegetarian diets, “how to combine foods for ‘complete’ protein, where to find foods with essential fatty acids, and the importance of taking vitamin B-12 supplements if you didn’t eat meat or fish.” He took that class because his roommate
didn’t have a lot of cash to buy food, and meat rarely resided in their refrigerator. “We got our beef fix if we went home for the weekend.” Or when they visited friends for dinner.
With the support of his vegetarian co-workers at the campus library, he decided to commit to a meatless/fishless lifestyle. It wasn’t always easy. Eyebrows shot upward. Even his brother, who had just moved to Texas, was taunted mercilessly about his “California flake of a brother.”
While a graduate student in San Diego, Randy got a job as an assistant for the California State Department of Education, working five days a week in the Los Angeles Basin where he rented a room by the week at a low-cost motel. “By low-cost, I mean sleazy,” he explains. By doing so, however, he was able to stretch his per diem and enjoy excellent vegetarian meals, which weren’t always easy to find back in the ‘70s.
Still in school, Randy also worked in various restaurants as a busboy, dishwasher and server, though never as a cook. To this day, that server job in an upscale hotel/restaurant on the I-5 just over the hill from La Jolla remains a vivid memory. He loved the job. He loved the tips.
But, after four days, he quit when he got that offer he could refuse. As Randy tells it, “The hostess and her crew of three males and three females (which included the hostess) gathered around and eyed me for at least 30 seconds. I thought I was being fired. The hostess said, ‘Randy. You are a great fit here. We love working with you. We’d also love for you to join our coven and orgies. Are you in?’” He has no memory of responding, just that he had to get out of there. He ran to his motorcycle and took off, never to return, not even to pick-up his four-day paycheck.
After graduating from SDSU in 1977, Randy found employment as an analyst in the California Department of Education. “It was a fair-paying job with good benefits … but my secret ambition was to become a writer of short stories” he says. It was also the year he met Robin Fisher “on a sunny day at my apartment building.
“It was love at first sight. I was reading a newspaper by the pool, and when I looked up, I saw this vision of loveliness.
That’s a trite expression, but it’s true. Kind of like Michael Corleone meeting Apollonia in Sicily for the first time (The Godfather — Part 1). That was April, 1977. We married the following January.”
Randy and Robin moved to Roseville in Placer County, California. While Robin started her career as a Redevelopment Agency consultant for cities and counties, Randy commuted to work in downtown Sacramento where he worked for 36 years for various state and local governments, including CalPERS, which builds retirement and health security for state, school and public agency members, and manages the largest public pension fund in the country. During his government career, however, he also had a “side hustle as a small event caterer on the weekends,” he remembers.
Though Randy never went to culinary school, he developed a passion for cooking and learned to do it really well as a young adult, a la Ina Garten and
Rachael Ray — “more of an unschooled celebrity chef than a serious Next Level Chef … I reinvented myself as Chef Randy when I moved to Ojai.”
He and Robin fell in love with Ojai when they visited one of Randy’s best friends and former college roommate who was living in the valley. That was enough for them to pack their bags. Now retired and living in Ojai, Robin wanted to know how Randy would fill his days, besides getting in her way. “I’ve always wanted to write,” he answered, and Robin suggested that he should finally write that cookbook he’s always talked about. “And that was how I began writing cookbooks.”
His first was self-published in 2011, and the final in the series was published 10 years later. He also started writing the short stories he’d dreamed of putting on paper. “I may not be good at it, but I am at peace when I’m in the groove. Writing makes me smile.”
Randy has also taught at the Ojai Culinary School at the Lavender Inn where Ojaians and tourists learned some of his cooking techniques. “I taught 20 classes over a four-year period prior to the pandemic,” he says. His pizza classes were top-rated.
Chef Randy’s choice to be a vegetarian has not only influenced his own life, but many others who have become aware of that lifestyle through his books and classes.
And the choice to turn down that offer to join an orgiastic group?
Clearly, he prefers ovens to covens.
You can find Randy’s books locally in the Ojai Museum, Poppies Art and Gifts store, and Bookends in Meiners Oaks. They are also sold online at Amazon.
Or you can find him at: randygraham@ valleyvegetarian or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ valleyvegetarian/?hl=en
Bon appetit!
$4,250,000 FOR SALE
Perfectly situated on just under four acres lies the historic and unique Casa de La Luna compound. Comprised of over 8,000 sq. ft, with 11 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, this magnificent estate is likely the best value estate compound available anywhere in California. The approximate 5,000 sq. ft. main house has 3 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, with limestone and hand-scraped wood floors, magnificent wrought iron doors, huge new gourmet kitchen, and numerous other upgrades. Guests and visitors can stay in the 2-bedroom, 2-bath guest house or any of the four other residences making this property perfect for a large family or an individual with an entourage. Massive outdoor patios and cooking areas, two large fountains, indoor pool with gym and recreation center make this property feel like a mini Hearst Castle. Private and gated.
$3,875,000
Nestled on over an acre of land, this Italian Villa inspired estate is just minutes from downtown Ojai. This impressive family home is perfect for entertaining with the formal dining opening to the light-filled formal living room with an elegant marble fireplace. The kitchen is open to the den with a large fireplace and overlooks the huge covered deck for relaxing. A charm-filled master suite is warmed with a corner fireplace and lots of windows. With a huge pool, a cook’s dream outdoor kitchen, nanny’s quarters, a treehouse, (not just for the kids), and a variety of fruit trees and majestic oaks this home has something to offer all your friends and family.
$3,550,000 FOR SALE
Welcome to a rare find in Ojai. This lovely four-bedroom, three-bath home has vaulted ceilings and a spacious open floor plan. The seller’s built the home in 1992 and it was designed well before it’s time as some of the features are just what most people are looking for. There is a fireplace in the living room which is open to the kitchen and dining room with French doors leading to magical gardens. A large library is off the living room and two offices upstairs. Lots of windows and plenty of light. There is a 2-bedroom,1-bath guest house and an artist studio on the property as well. All of this is sitting on 7.5 flat usable acres with some of the most incredible views of the majestic mountains. Pathways will take you to fruit trees, vegetable gardens, chicken coop and a beautiful Koi pond. Several places to sit and take in the views or just enjoy the land. Fully fenced, gated, and private.
By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela
Recent temperatures should serve to remind us that the rainy season is coming to an end and the hot, dry days of summer are just around the corner. To help you keep your family, pets, and guests comfortable in the coming months, here are nine ways you can prepare your home and yard for increased heat.
Change your HVAC filters: It is almost time to start using your air conditioner regularly, so it is a good time to change your HVAC filters in preparation for AC season.
Increase shade: Provide shade for patios, play areas, dog runs, and other outdoor living areas to help keep your family and guests cool during the hotter months. This might mean finally building that roof to cover your patio, stringing up shade sails over gravel seating areas, or setting up umbrellas over your outdoor dining table.
Set out extra water bowls: This is a good time to start getting in the habit of setting out extra water bowls for the animals that share your home and yard. That way, by the time the heat really arrives, this will be part of your normal routine.
Invest in blackout curtains or
shades: Blackout curtains are not for everyone, but if you would like to reduce the cost of cooling your home and take a step towards keeping it more comfortable for your family and pets, consider installing blackout curtains or shades to reduce the amount of heat from the sun that enters your home.
Install drip irrigation for food plants and ornamentals: Controlled watering at soil level reduces water waste while helping plants better cope with the dry, hot weather the coming months will bring. Install an automatic irrigation system now to have it in place before summer.
increase the insulation in your home. This will help keep your home comfortable throughout the year and reduce both cooling and heating costs.
Add or replace weather stripping and caulk: Properly sealed doors and windows reduce air exchange, which means less hot air gets inside your home from the outside and less of the HVACcooled air inside your home escapes. You can improve the seal on your doors and windows by adding or replacing weather stripping and caulking.
Reduce water-loving landscaping: Replace tropical plants and other landscaping features that require excessive irrigation with drought-tolerant native plants that will save water and help your yard look lush and beautiful even in the incessant summer heat.
Add insulation: If it is in your budget,
Add fans to your home-cooling regimen: While we cannot rely on fans to cool the air to a comfortable temperature, we can incorporate them into our cooling routine to help move HVAC-cooled air around the house and improve air circulation. This can reduce cooling costs and make your home more comfortable on hot days.
If you plan to install ceiling fans, blackout shades, a drip system, or any other heat-preparation measures that might require a professional, remember to support the local economy by using local contractors and vendors.
While Edward Drummond Libbey is rightfully regarded among Ojai’s chief benefactors — having been behind the building of such Ojai landmarks as the Ojai Valley Inn, St. Thomas Aquinas Church (now the Museum), Post Office Tower and the Arcade — others have been very influential in shaping Ojai’s identity. Here’s a few:
Annie Besant. Free-thinker, feminist and noted Theosophist. Though she only spent a few days in Ojai, she brought Krishnamurti to Ojai, and helped buy hundreds of acres of property in Ojai, (now the sites of Besant Hill School and, along with A.P. Warrington, the Krotona Center) which she called “the smiling vale.” She is considered one of the pioneers of introducing Eastern mystical thought to the West, and was an early advocate of India’s independence. and the labor movement.
Jiddhu Krishnamurti. The spiritual teacher and writer, came to Ojai in 1922, sponsored by the Theosophical Society, though he later broke with that group (“The Leaderless Path.”) He gave talks to many thousands of people each year, in the Star Camps in the oak groves west of Ojai (now the site of Oak Grove School. He once held the Guinness Book of World Records for having spoken to the greatest number of people.
Beatrice Wood. The famed ceramicist’s (“The Mama of Dada”) greatest work of art may well have been her life. The irreverent, avant-garde Wood lived and worked in Ojai for decades until her death in 1998 at age 105. She inspired two classic movies, Francois Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim,” and James Cameron’s “Titanic.” She attributed her longevity to “chocolate and young men.” Her autobiography was appropriately titled, “I Shock Myself.” Many of her distinctive, whimsical, luminous luster-glazed pieces are on display at her former home, now the Beatrice Wood Center, in upper Ojai.
Sherman Day Thacher . After coming West to farm and care for an ailing brother, the Yale-educated Thacher realized that he was going to need another source of income. So he founded The Thacher School in 1887. Now one of the most prestigious preparatory academies in the country, its founding creed was “teach a boy to ride, shoot and tell the truth.” Also, in 1896, his brother William founded “The Ojai,” the country’s oldest amateur tennis tournament. Among Thacher’s more illustrious students were industrialist, aviator and film producer Howard Hughes and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder, who wrote his first play while a Thacher student.
The name “Ojai” is believed to be derived from the Ventureño Chumash word ‘awhaý, meaning “moon.” In 1837, Fernando Tico received a land grant and established a cattle ranch. Thomas A. Scott, who had financial success with oil and railroads, bought the Ojai Valley in 1864 for oil exploration. By 1868, Scott, through his agent Thomas Bard, began selling properties to homesteaders. By 1874, R.G. Surdam plotted out the town he would call Nordhoff, renamed Ojai in 1917.
Ojai is about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 30 miles east of Santa Barbara. The valley is about 10 miles long by 3 miles wide, surrounded by hills and mountains; the rare east-west orientation with a slight southward tilt gives the valley an extraordinary sun exposure; Ojai’s citrus and avocado crops are highly prized. This orientation also gives rise to Ojai as a spiritual destination.
It was due to the resources and organizing energy of Ohio glass manufacturer Edward Drummond Libbey that Nordhoff was rebuilt and renamed Ojai, inspired by the City Beautiful Movement. By 1917, with the construction of the Arcade and Post Office Tower, the town took its present shape.
The city’s self-styled nickname is “Shangri-La,” based on the story that Ojai was the backdrop (later left on the editing room floor) from the 1937 movie as the mystical sanctuary of James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.”
Ross Falvo Keller Williams Realty
“The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com 805-207-5094
Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
805-798-1998
Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography 805-798-0337 loganhallphotos. com
Clinton Haugan LIV | Sotheby’s International Realty 727 W. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023 C: (805) 760-2092 O: (805) 646-7288 chaugan@livsothebysrealtyca.com DRE# 02019604
Nora Davis LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
OjaiValleyEstates. com
805-207-6177
Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. Call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.
Vivienne Moody LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
805-798-1099 vmoody10@ sbcglobal.net OjaiLifestyle.net
Larry Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde. com 805-640-5734
Kristen Currier LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. com
Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors
Donna4Remax@aol.com DonnaSallen. com 805-798-0516
Amanda Stanworth LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Phone: 805-2188117 • E-mail: amandastanworth77@gmail. com
Web: Rooney-Stanworth.com
Erik Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde.com 805-830-3254
Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Call me for your Real Estate needs. 805-340-3774
Team Deckert Keller Williams Realty
Ray Deckert, Broker Associate ContactUs@ TeamDeckert. com
805-272-5218
Dale Hanson Ojai Valley Real Estate 211 E. Matilija Street, Ste. J, 206 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-7229 dale@ovhl.com
Kirk Ellison LIV Sotheby’s International Realty KirkEllison@ me.com 805-340-5905
Anne Williamson LIV Sotheby’s Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314
Marsha Kaye Home Mortgage Consultant
Phone: 805640-0654 Cell: 805-7469055 marsha.kaye@ homebridge. com
Hildegard Tallent CalBRE# 02047013 Keller Williams Realty, 109 N. Blanche Street Tel: 805-7981872 email: hildegard.tallent@ kw.com
Kathy Hoff LIV Sotheby’s International Realty (805) 290-6907 thehoffgroup.com
OMG! Have you noticed this year’s plants and flowers are incredibly larger, greener, and full of blooms?
The rain, and now the sunshine, have transformed each plant, tree, and flower to their best look ever! Our birch tree is alive with little leaves and greenery as soon as the sun came out to get him started.
Some flowers I have not paid much attention to in the past, are showing their best sides after enduring the torrential rain, and now relishing the warm sun to bring out their true beauty.
Joe Davis Full service property management, residential • Commercial • Industrial JoeTheRentalGuy.com. 805-574-9774
The Japanese Coral tree next to my office window is now showing her red flower cones, with large green leaves to follow. It will be spectacular in the coming weeks! The desert has its Super Bloom this year, and the Ojai Valley has its’ own beautification happening with succulents, flowers, blooming trees, and now warmer weather.
I can remove the three to four layers of shirts and sweaters, heavy socks, and my rarely used winter coats, which normally stay on their closet hangers for years at a time. I even found myself wearing a few I had forgotten I owned!
Bring out the warm weather clothes and enjoy the Ojai Valley today!
AGAVE MARIA
Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink
106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com
AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS
Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go
11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com
BOCCALI’S
Pizza & Pasta, from our farm to our tables 3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road (805) 646-6116 boccalis.com
BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE
Traditional American breakfast & brunch
328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207
THE DEER LODGE
An Ojai legend since 1932
2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com
FARMER & THE COOK
The best of organic Ojai
339 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-9608 farmerandcook.com
YUME JAPANESE BURGER
254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 646-1700
JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL
Mexican-American & regional favorites
214 West Ojai Avenue #100 (805) 640-1301 jimandrobsojai.com
HIP VGN
Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls
201 North Montgomery Street
hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363
HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI
Breakfast and lunch in a warm space
1103 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-5346
HomeKitchenofOjai.com
MANDALA
Pan-Asian Cuisine
11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048
THE NEST
401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com
LO>E SOCIAL CAFE
205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com
OAK GRILL @ THE INN
Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola 905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.com
OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY
Salads, sandwiches & superb service 337 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-4478
OJAI PIZZA COMPANY 331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878
TheOnlyGoodPizza.com
OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View)
The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue
OJAI ROTIE
Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox
469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227
ojairotie.com
OSTERIA MONTE GRAPPA
Rustic menu of Northern Italian fare & seafood dishes. 242 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 (805) 640-6767
omgojai.com
PAPA LENNON’S
Family owned, original & traditional Italian cuisine
515 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-7388 papalennons.com
RAINBOW BRIDGE
A community gathering place 211 East Matilija Street (805) 646-6623 rainbowbridgeojai.com
THE RANCH HOUSE
An Ojai culinary destination for more than 60 years 102 Besant Road (805) 646-2360 theranchhouse.com
SAKURA OJAI
A locals’ favorite for Japanese food 219 East Matilija Street (805) 646-8777
sakuraojai.wix.com
SEA FRESH
Serving Ojai for 30 years 533 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-7747
seafreshseafood.com
ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL
Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views 1033 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-5685
soulepark.com
Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lactoovo vegetarian for over 38 years. Chef Randy has written and published a series of seven cookbooks with original recipes developed over the period 1975 through 2020. He writes for the Ojai Quarterly, the Ojai Monthly, and the California 101 Travelers Guide. His vegetarian recipes are published in newspapers throughout Central California under the header, Chef Randy. He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog Cooper. Robin and Cooper are not vegetarians.
What better time than summertime for a fresh salad made with quinoa, corn, cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumber. Serve with a loaf of fresh-baked bread for lunch or bring to the table at dinnertime as a side salad. Either way this savorysweet salad is certain to be a hit with family and friends.
DRESSING INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
SALAD INGREDIENTS:
1 cup quinoa (rinsed and drained)
1/2 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (vegetable base) Fresh corn kernels (cut from 2 ears of corn)
1 1/2 cups sun-gold tomatoes (cut in half)
3/4 cup red cabbage (chopped fine)
1 cup cucumber (peeled and diced)
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Bring quinoa, bouillon, and 1½ cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Set aside, uncovered.
Bring 2 cups water to a boil in separate saucepan. Add corn, and cook for one minute. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain again and set aside.
Stir corn, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, and quinoa together in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing over salad and gently mix until combined. Serve chilled.
a n y m o r e . B u t n o w w e d i s c o v e r e d t h e m a g i c a l t o w n o f O j a i a n d t h o u g h t t h a t t h i s w o u l d b e t h e p e r f e c t p l a c e f o r T h e I v y t o r e - o p e n . O u r w i d e r a n g e o f i t e m s i n c l u d e s a n t i q u e s , n e e s t a t e j e w e l r y, s t e r l i n g s i l v e r, E u r o p e a n p o r c e l a i n s a n d p o t t e r y, l i n e n s , a n d e x c e p t i o n a l a n t i q u e f u r n i t u r e f r o m a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . A s a l w a y s a t T h e I v y, t a b l e t o p a c c e s s o r i e s a b o u n d i n n e d i s h w a r e , c r y s t a l , a n d s i l v e r t o n i s h o ff y o u r t a b l e i n s t y l e . C o m e s e e o u r n e w l y e x p a n d e d s h o w r o o m f e a t u r i n g e x c l u s i v e , v e r y m o d e r n , a n d u n u s u a l f u r n i t u r e , a r t , r u g s , a n d a c c e s s o r i e s . I f y o u n e e d t o n d t h e e l u s i v e " p e r f e c t " g i f t , T h e I v y i n O j a i i s t h e o n e - s t o p - s h o p f o r a l l y o u r n e e d s C o m e j o i n u s , a f t e r a l l : ' E v e r y o n e s h o p s a t T h e I v y.'
1 SHELF ROAD 3.5mi
EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.
VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE | 7mi
EASY TO MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 520 ft (Wills-Rice). Trailheads at end of Meyer Road, South Rice Road and Baldwin Road. Great for birding.
HORN CANYON 5.5mi
STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1,600 ft. Trailhead near Thacher School’s gymkhana field. Goes to shady stand of 80-foot tall pines.
ROSE VALLEY 1mi
EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft
Trailhead at Rose Valley Campground. Leads to a spectacular 300-foot, two-tiered fall.
PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi
STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3,300 ft | Trailhead off North Signal Street. Goes to Nordhoff Peak. Clear day? See forever.
GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi
MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs (Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak. Trailhead at north end of Gridley Road.
COZY DELL 2.2mi
MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft | Trailhead 8 miles north of Ojai on Maricopa Highway. Short, intense hike that also connects to trail network.
SISAR CANYON 22mi
STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4,800 ft to Topa Topa Bluffs. Trailhead at end of Sisar Road. Only for experienced, fit hikers.
MATILIJA CANYON 12mi
MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft | Middle Fork. Trailhead at end of Matilija Road. First 1.5 miles of trail well-maintained, the rest a scramble.
SULPHUR MTN. 22mi
MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2,300 ft | Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road. Views are unsurpassed.
CHRISTOPHER KOSTOW
NANCY SILVERTON
26-29, 2023
GAVIN KAYSEN
ALICE WATERS
Ojai Food + Wine, presented by FOOD & WINE, brings together more than 50 top chefs and 100 acclaimed wineries in over 40 unique experiences. Join us October 26-29 for an exclusive, four-day gathering showcasing some of the world’s best culinary personalities. Ticket packages and resort accommodations are extremely limited, please book now to avoid disappointment.
To purchase tickets, visit ojaifoodandwine.com or call (877) 436-1083.
Five Bedrooms, Media Room, Wine Cellar, Tasting Room, Gym/Massage Room, Pool & Spa, Indoor an Outdoor Putting Greens, Well, Six-Car Garages, Bocce Court, Views, and So Much More RoyalOaksRanchOjai.com
$1,395,000
Its sunny, romantic wrap-around porch & large windows overlooking downtown Ojai is home to the famous Porch Gallery, unique as both a historic residence & eclectic gallery space! A classic Victorian, the third oldest building in town, was built in 1874 by Ojai Pioneer John Montgomery. A celebrated
Gallery & Beato Chocolates Store (named after famed artist Beatrice Wood), is an iconic communal gathering spot for celebrities, world-renowned artists, and locals alike. The high-profile community space & residence is zoned VMU & designed as a live/work space. SEE YOU ON THE PORCH!
