construction of the 5100 sqft, 4br/5ba home is finished with the highest quality materials, appliances and fixtures. An H-shaped floorplan separates private sleeping areas from public social areas. The open living area includes a chef’s kitchen, a 2-sided fireplace, and a wine tasting room. The grounds feature a 100% organic vineyard, pool/spa with epic views, and multiple courtyards and verandas to take full advantage of the spectacular natural setting.
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self evident.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
Aside from fewer than two-and-a-half years combined in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, Ojai is the largest city in which I have lived. With 7,500 residents, it is 12.5 times the size of my hometown of Forestville, population 600, in New York's westernmost Chautauqua County. Ojai is practically a bustling megalopolis in contrast to the tiny hamlet which was the center of my world the first 17 years of my life.
My cousin Donny died early in 2022, the last Bradigan to earn his living from the land, going back six generations to 1848 when Frederick and Amelia Brautigam came here from the pre-Germany principalities of Westphalia and Saxony respectively. As much as I couldn't wait to get off the farm — anyone who had to get up at 4:30 a.m. in subzero temperatures to set up milking machines for the Jerseys and Guernseys chuffing clouds of condensation has surely shared my desire to leave — I was not expecting the nostalgia and sense of loss to be so durable, coming up on three years later.
The original homestead, totaling close to a half-mile square or 320 acres, was down to 88 acres of hardwood forest, field corn, table grapes and garden by the time Donny passed away, aged 80. It was once productive enough to support 110 dairy cows, large expanses of potatoes, as well as blueberries, watermelon and many orchard harvests of cherries, apples and peaches. Donny had complained of feeling poorly that morning, a rare complaint from one of the most stoic, hard-working people I have known. He was found by my other cousin Andy, huddled up in his favorite afghan at the kitchen table, as though he had nodded off for a moment before resuming his chores.
Small-town life is a paradox of simplicity and complexity, a delicate balance of familiarity and change. It is just as deeply rooted in community and identity. These roots — so cherished, so necessary — can be both a comfort and a cause for division, particularly when change stirs the air.
Growing up in Forestville, I learned the importance of grounding oneself in a place, of understanding where you come from, and how that place shapes you. My cousin Donny embodied that sense of place. His passing marked the end of an era, not just for my family, but for the land that sustained us for six generations. As much as I was eager to leave the farm behind, the sense of belonging it instilled in me has never faded.
It is this sense of place that Ojai must preserve, but not through the rigid and divisive tactics of those who resist change. From growing up in a small town, I recognized long ago that Ojai is not just a place — it is a home, a living, breathing community where people of all backgrounds come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Our vision for Ojai must be one that honors our past while embracing the future, one that seeks to build bridges rather than walls.
Small-town life is about connection. It’s about knowing your neighbors, sharing in their joys and challenges, and working together to make your community a better place for all. There are many advantages to living in a small town, though it's not for everyone. I'd guess, if you've read this far, that it is for you.
FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS
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.
Weather in Ojai
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.
OJAI QUICK FACTS:
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.”
Sydney Bowie Linden, 2019
Swimming Through, Samantha Sanders, 2022 Lily
OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS podcast events
BOCCALI’S PUMPKIN PATCH | THROUGH OCT. 31 | 4thOfJulyInOjai.Com
OCTOBER 12-14
40th Annual Ojai Studio Artists Tour
Dates: Saturday to Monday Times: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Locations: More than 60 artist studios in the Ojai Valley. The event is headquartered at the Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue
Contact: OjaiStudioArtists.org
888-645-5006
This year, tickets are priced at $20 each and 63 artists are opening their studios to the public.
TO OCTOBER 14
“Outside Inside Flipside”
Dates: Thursday to Monday Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Locations: 130 West Ojai Avenue
Contact: Ojai Valley Museum
805-640-1390
“Inside Outside Flipside” features work that explores 63 artists’ interior experiences and processes.This exhibit accompanies the 40th annual Ojai Studio Artists Tour.
OCTOBER 19
Ojai Day
Date: Saturday Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Libbey Park
Contact: OjaiDay.com
805-646-5581
OJAI DAY | OCTOBER 19 | OjaiDay.com
The community comes together to celebrate each other. Activities include bounce houses, face painting, cultural activities, animal education, live music, car and trailer shows, food trucks and more.
OCTOBER 24-27
Ojai Storytellers Festival
Dates: Thursday to Sunday Times: Multiple Events
Locations: Ojai Art Center & Libbey Bowl
Contact: OjaiStoryFest.org
This decades-old Ojai tradition begins with a Meet the Tellers reception Thursday, 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center.
THROUGH OCTOBER 31
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
Boccali’s Hayrides Times: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Boccali’s Pizza & Pasta
3277 East Ojai Avenue
Contact: 805-646-6616
Boccalis.com
School and other groups by appointment.
THROUGH OCTOBER 31
Boccali’s Pumpkin Patch Times: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Boccali’s Pizza & Pasta
3277 East Ojai Avenue
Contact: 805-646-6616
OJAI PODCAST | THURSDAYS | OjaiHub.Com
Boccalis.com. Seven days a week. An Ojai tradition since 1976.
OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 4
Ojai Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary
Dates: Wednesday to Sunday Times: Varied
Locations: Varied
Contact: Info@OjaiFilmFestival.com
805-640-1947
Since 2000, the Ojai Film Festival has celebrated cinema with dozens of screenings and special events. Where indie filmmakers feel seen.
NOVEMBER 11-12
Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace
Dates: Saturday & Sunday Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Locations: Varied
Contact: Info@OjaiFestival.org
805-640-2094
The Ojai Music Festival has hosted tours of Ojai’s most distinctive, and distinguished, homes for 26 years.
— RECURRING EVENTS —
THURSDAYS
Ojai: Talk of the Town Podcast
New episodes come out Thursday evenings through TheOjaiVortex.com newsletter. Sign up at OjaiHub.com for a free newsletter of Ojai events, news, arts, entertainment, history and culture. And podcasts.
Photo by Stephen Adams
SUSAN COULTER & BERYL SCHWARTZ
BY ILONA JOY SAARI
CHEF, CARPENTER & THE MAKING OF ‘OJAI PROUD’
Susan Coulter & Beryl Schwartz On Finding Community, Themselves
You may have seen Beryl and Susan around town, volunteering at Help of Ojai, helping build theater sets, or running a restaurant. You’d think they’ve been here forever but, like many other citizens of Ojai, they started elsewhere.
Beryl Schwartz was raised along with her two older brothers and a younger sister in Northern Virginia by her dad, Benjamin Schwartz, a mathematician who worked in Operations Research, and her mom, Joan Koslan Schwartz, a renowned textile artist. Joan taught classes in her home studio and Beryl was surrounded and influenced by color, texture, and history. One of her mom’s friends was a carpenter and Beryl loved being in his shop. “I always remember the smell of fresh cut wood from the age of nine and how much I loved it.” A memory that would lead her down an important path in life.
OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM, BERYL AND SUSAN IN SAN LUIS
ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, ABOVE: VISITING THE GRAND CANYON AND CELEBRATING SUSAN’S BIRTHDAY.
After high school, Beryl attended Kirkland College in Upstate New York, then transferred to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, eventually ending up in Chicago on an internship program at the Goodman School of Drama. She worked as a customer service rep, then manager of a food service distributor, and at 30, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. When she lost her job at age 34, she began an apprenticeship at the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters. When she told her parents, her Dad said, “It’s about time. I knew when you were 19 that you wanted to be a carpenter, but I couldn’t tell you anything when you were 19.” (Beryl recently celebrated 30 years as a union carpenter.)
Susan Coulter, the daughter of Fredrick Norman Coulter, a wholesale florist, and Donna Belle Winke Coulter, a homemaker, was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised with her older sister in Dolton, a suburb of Chicago. After graduating from high school, Susan was off to Western Illinois University, then transferred to the University of Illinois, Circle Campus. But her desire to travel was strong and her itchy feet carried her into an Air Force recruiter’s office, where she and the recruiter had a serious talk. She signed
on the dotted line and traveled to Italy where she lived for a year-and-a-half, then to Germany where she spent three-anda-half years, serving as a budget analyst during her Air Force career, reaching the rank of Sergeant before returning to America.
Susan’s Grandmother and Mom were great cooks and bakers, and had taught her their skills coupled with a love for cooking. Now back in the States, that love inspired her to become a chef and to enroll in the Dumas Pere Culinary School in Glenview, Illinois. Soon after, Susan worked with such famous chefs as James Beard Awardwinning and Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia, and PBS star chef and 1999 James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef award-winner Charlie Trotter of the famous Charlie Trotter’s restaurant in Chicago.
While plying their crafts in Chicago, the hammer met the spatula through a mutual friend, and “contrary to lesbian lore, we did NOT move in together on our second date.” In fact, Susan and Beryl traveled the courtship route and dated for about a year-and-a-half before they started a home life together. Beryl, still working as a
customer service manager, was transferred to Baltimore. The two of them packed their bags and settled in the city where Susan scored a job as a chef at Pierpoint Restaurant and Pier 500 (an eatery that has since closed).
A year later, the Maryland office closed and Beryl was offered a position in Cincinnati or Indianapolis. Neither city was an option.
Since her former position in Chicago was still open, she told the company she wanted her old job back, or she would find work elsewhere. That did the trick, and she and Susan packed up again and moved back to the city they loved. Susan continued to work in restaurants and then became a private chef for a wealthy family with homes in the northern suburbs of Chicago and Stuart, Florida. For a time, she created and led her own catering business, “Here, Eat This.”
A few years later the door closed on Beryl’s job, but a new door opened, and within a year, she became an “indentured apprentice in the carpenters’ union.” The apprenticeship was a four-year stint, after which Beryl became a journeyman (journeywoman).
OBISPO
KITCHEN
She worked indoors and out in commercial construction doing metal stud framing, hanging drywall, installing doors and windows, forming concrete, etc., but after working part of the time outside in brutal Chicago winters, she and Susan decided it was time to move to a warmer clime.
During several visits to California, they had fallen in love with Santa Barbara and decided to settle there, but after looking for a home, they realized that Santa Barbara was out of their price range. Susan did a bit of research and discovered Ojai which was close enough to Santa Barbara to allow Beryl to continue working union jobs. They knew nothing about Ojai, so in 2002 they rented a house in town for nine months and grew to love the valley. They looked for a place to buy and found the perfect home
in Meiners Oaks where they have lived for the past 21-and-a-half years.
Susan worked for a couple of places in town, experiencing “casual restaurant” dining, and got to know some of the townspeople and they her. Beryl, during her customer service career, had worked for Kraft Food Service as a rep and manager in the wholesale food industry, so, coupled with Susan’s years as a professional chef, they decided together to open an affordable bistro-style restaurant in Ojai.
As they began to develop this idea an exciting opportunity knocked. A lease in a bookstore in the town’s historic Arcade was available to take over, and in 2006 Feast Bistro was born. With Susan’s culinary talents, the
restaurant soon became a popular eatery in town for Ojaians and tourists alike. Out from her kitchen over the years came such seasonal culinary delights as dreamy mussels and clams in a light garlic cream sauce, flat-iron steaks cooked to perfection with a classic pepper cream sauce, delicious seared duck breasts or seared ahi tuna, and a slow-braised pork that just fell off the bone. For lunch, diners reveled in such feasts as a linguica sausage “Dagwood-size” sandwich in a pretzel roll (a pretzel roll!) or a fancy grilled mozzarella, fontina, and a taste of smoked mozzarella with sautéed mushrooms on brioche. And, of course, pommes frites. All a veritable bistro feast.
It was during this Feast of a time, and after 26 years together, Susan and Beryl became the first lesbian couple to tie the
WOMEN AT WORK: UNION CARPENTER BERYL SCHWARTZ ON THE JOB; SUSAN COULTER AT HER ERSTWHILE RESTAURANT, FEAST BISTRO IN THE ARCADE, WHERE SHE DAZZLED DINERS IN ITS OPEN
knot in Ventura County. Though they did not need a piece of paper to prove their love, Beryl told a reporter in 2013, “Now, finally, (with the Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges) we have equal rights and protection under the law.” Recently, they celebrated 37 years together.
Over the years, Beryl has used her carpentry skills to help build sets for Ojai
Performing Arts Theater, Ojai Art Center Theater, and local school play productions, while Susan volunteered for Help of Ojai. And, since selling Feast Bistro in 2016, Susan has kept her chef’s apron strings tied as she continues to make food for neighbors and friends in need from Covid, cancer, and other illnesses, or who have lost a spouse. Beryl continues to work by creating sets for the theater and has
nurtured her artistic talents in creating concrete art featured at Poppies gift store. Her work is highlighted on Instagram @ joanliveson, Beryl’s account named as an homage to her famous textile artist mom.
Every year Beryl and Susan take part in Ojai’s Pride parade, and Ojai is indeed proud of their unique contributions to our diverse town.
ABOVE: EXAMPLES OF BERYL SCHWARTZ’ CEMENT ART; BELOW: THEIR WEDDING INVITATION FROM 2013.
Calling all Investors! You have plenty of space to create your own workspace with this 8-acre property and nearly 30,000 square ft of commercial space. Longtime tenants share the property and would love to stay. There are 3 APN numbers. that make up the 8 acre property. The property is located in a perfect industrial area of Santa Paula. Family owned property, offered for sale for the first time in years. Don’t miss this opportunity for development.
FAMILY HOME
Located on one of Ojai’s most desirable streets, Foothill Road, and sitting perfectly on over half an acre, this wonderful family home is just waiting for you. This home features a spacious open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, Travertine stone floors throughout and light-filled rooms. There are two large living areas, both with their own fireplace, so you can enjoy the warmth of a cozy fire. Top-of-the-line appliances in the large kitchen which looks out to the beautiful pool and backyard. The dining room opens to a large deck with lovely mountain views, a great place for entertaining. There are 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms with plenty of room for family and guests. The outdoor space is charming with meandering pebble pathways, lush landscape and mature trees. You will love splashing in the pool on warm summer days or soaking in the hot tub under the star-studded night’s sky. Includes an over-sized 3-car garage with plenty of parking. Private and gated. Don’t miss this one!
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.
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.
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.
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.
EAST END MASTERPIECE
Welcome to this nearly 35-acre income producing ranch located in the prestigious East End of Ojai. Truly iconic ranch nestled between McNell Creek and the Topa Topa Mountains offering you a perfect “Pink Moment” nearly every evening. This 1920’s farmhouse has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, and a massive original rock fireplace. The light-filled rooms with large windows showcase the panoramic mountain views. There is a separate office/art stdio and a separate two bedroom, one bathroom guest house. Plenty of room to park all your farm equipment in the oversized three-car garage. This ranch produces Ojai Pixies, avocados, Cara Cara navel oranges, and a variety of other fruit trees. With a high-producing well along with Casitas ag water meter and solar ...living off the grid never looked so good. Rare opportunity to be part of the Williamson Act for tax savings benefits.
Fall-Ready in a Flash: 5 Tips to Wow Guests
By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela
Fall is finally here, and I could not be more excited. If you also wait all summer for the return of sweater weather and cozy nights around the fire pit, then you are likely just as ready to transition into the fall entertaining season. Here are five things you can do to prepare your outdoor spaces for entertaining in the coming months.
1. Transition your outdoor living areas: As we move from summer into fall, the kids are back in school, pool parties are not as common, and the focus moves from keeping your guests cool to keeping your guests warm. Pool toys make way for portable heaters and signature cocktails at soirees transition from margaritas and mojitos to fall favorites with maple, cinnamon, pumpkin, and warming spices. To facilitate this transition, clear the summer clutter and stock up on fall entertaining supplies.
2. Improve your outdoor lighting: Check your landscape lighting for any fixtures that are not working, bulbs that need to be replaced, or timers that need adjusting to accommodate the shorter days ahead of us. This is also a good time to assess your outdoor lighting to see if more path lights or task lighting would improve the safety
or function of your outdoor living areas. To add soft light to create warm, inviting spaces, consider adding festive string lights.
3. Plant an herb garden for fall and winter cocktails: Now is the perfect time to plant a cocktail herb garden with herbs you can use for fall and winter entertaining. Options to consider include sage, rosemary, mint, thyme, lemon verbena, and basil. Herbs are great for crafting cocktails and cooking and also make good ornamentals, so fill containers and borders to beautify your entertaining space and have fresh herbs close at hand.
4. Plan to keep your guests warm: If you entertain often in the cooler months of fall and winter, consider installing a patio heater to help keep your guests warm. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is perfect for creating ambiance and gathering around with friends, but they can only radiate so much heat in larger outdoor entertaining areas. If an installed heater is not in the budget or if it would be too challenging to run electrical for one, portable heaters that run on propane might be a better option. Another nice touch for cozy gatherings is to keep a basket of throw blankets near outdoor seating areas for your guests to use.
5. Prepare your fire features for fall: With the weather finally starting to cool off, we are all going to be able to use our fire features more. That means it is time to make sure they are functioning properly and can be used safely. Before your next party, make sure your chimney, fire box, fire screen, and fire tools are clean and in good repair. If you do not have a fire screen, get one. There are plenty of attractive options and no excuse for not having one.
You will also want to stock up on the proper fuel and make sure you have fire extinguishing supplies nearby.
Fall home maintenance tip: Cooler temperatures and rain are likely on the way, so it is time to prepare our homes for the changing weather. It is time to clean your gutters, change your HVAC filters, and adjust your irrigation system. Remember: Cleaning your gutters is not just about reducing the risk of water damage; it is also about reducing the risk of fire damage by avoiding an ember carried on the Santa Ana winds igniting debris in your gutters. If you need assistance with any of these tasks, support the local economy by using local contractors.
Ross Falvo
Keller Williams Realty “The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com 805-207-5094
Nora Davis LIV Sotheby’s International Realty OjaiValleyEstates. com 805-207-6177
Kristen Currier LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. com
Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
805-798-1998
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.
Donna Sallen
Remax Gold Coast Realtors Donna4Remax@aol.com
DonnaSallen.com 805-798-0516
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
Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography 805-798-0337 loganhallphotos. com
Clinton Haugan LIV | Sotheby’s International Realty 727 W. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023
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
CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE
creamy mushroom & chik’n pie
I was looking for different comfort food recipes. I found a creamy mushroom and chicken pie recipe on the internet that sounded good to me (vegetarian) and Robin (omnivore). So, using my Creamy Mushroom Sauce recipe as a base, I created this recipe featuring frozen vegan Chick’n Tenders. I served it with a garden salad and a fresh-baked baguette. Comfort food, for sure.
Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lacto-ovo 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.
INGREDIENTS
:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1-1/2 cups sweet onion (chopped)
8 ounces button mushrooms (remove stems)
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (no beef base)
4 tablespoons natural almond butter
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
9-ounce package Gardein Frozen Chick’n Tenders (cut into 1-inch pieces)
2 frozen pie crusts
1/4 cup milk
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring Chick’n Tenders out of the freezer and allow them to thaw before preparing the sauce.
Heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and mushrooms for five minutes. Add broth, bouillon, almond butter, garlic, pepper, and Chick’n. Stir to combine. Cook for three minutes more or until creamy. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Place one pie crust in a pie dish. Press the crust firmly against the side and bottom of the dish. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork and bake, unfilled, for ten minutes. Remove from oven and pour the mushroom filling into the prebaked pie crust. Place the second pie crust on top and seal the rim by pressing the edges of the crust together. Make a few minor cuts on the top crust with a paring knife to allow steam to escape.
Brush the top of the pie with milk, turn the oven to 375 degrees, and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for approximately ten minutes before serving.
Roca Vista Ranch - Enjoy resort-style living on approximately 10 acres with gated entries, 7-bedroom main house with 2 guest wings and 3 fireplaces, pool house, swimming pool with beach entrance and wading pool, spa, gym, artist’s loft, lighted tennis court, horse facilities, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, patio fireplace, family orchard, three-car garage + two-car garage, and spectacular mountain views. www.RocaVistaRanchOjai.com
Royal Oaks - 5 Bedrooms, Upscale Finishes, Media Room, Wine Cellar, Tasting Room, Gym/Massage Room, Pool & Spa, Six-Car Garage, Bocce Court, Views, and More RoyalOaksRanchOjai.com
$5,500,000
Ojai Commercial Property with Parking Lot, Showroom, Workshop, Office, Breakroom or Storage Room, Two Bathrooms, and Great Location in Industrial Area Evolving into Hip Entertainment District 907BryantPlace.com $1,785,000 Rose Valley Land - Create an off-grid, country retreat on 40 acres with mountain views, trails, and a natural spring in Rose Valley in the Los Padres National Forest $1,200,000 Upper Ojai Land - Build your dream home on 1.25 acres in Upper Ojai with 20-25gpm well, water meter, Edison drop, and beautiful mountain views minutes from downtown Ojai. $697,500 Sunset Cottage – Two-Bedroom, One-Bathroom Oak View Home with Fresh Paint, Easy-Care Landscaping, Gated RV Parking, Ceiling Fans, Two-Car Garage, and Covered Front Porch Walking Distance to Sunset School, Post Office, Grocery Store, and More $739,000
Rancho Royale – Historic, 21-acre, remodeled and updated equestrian estate with four-bedroom main house plus eight rentals, 18-stall barn, 16-stall barn, 5 additional barns, 20 covered corrals, four arenas, two round pens, hay and equipment barns, three RV hookups, Preifert panel walker, entertainment barn, archery range, mountain views, and so much more RanchoRoyaleOjai.com
$1,398,000
$799,000
$8,199,000
$3,795,000
This downtown triplex with two units completed in 2024 offers a rare opportunity for an investment property, sharing the property with family or friends, or living in one unit and renting the others for rental income. $1,500,000
Oakcrest Roost - 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms with Recent Updates, Flexible Spaces, Large Loft, Breakfast Bar, Gas Fireplace, Skylights, Two-Car Garage, Solar Panels, Fruit Trees, Gated RV Parking
Two Bedroom, Two Bathroom Manufactured Home + Outbuildings on Flat, Usable, .81-Acre Horse Property Close to Lake Casitas and Oak View Shops & Restaurants
Golden Oaks Glen - 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Spacious Primary Suite with 2 Vanities, Media Room, Two Fireplaces, Walk-In Pantry, Two Laundry Rooms, Over-Sized 2-Car Garage, Swimming Pool & Spa, Patio Fireplace, Built-in Grill with Bar, Family Orchard, RV Hookup & Much More
This captivating architectural masterpiece, completed in 2022, is a tribute to midcentury-modern design, honoring both craftsmanship and the enchanting land it inhabits. Drawing inspiration from the timeless elegance of midcentury aesthetics, this gated, one-story, 3 & 3, just under 3000 sqft luxury home embodies grace, symmetry, and a seamless connection to nature.
Must experience! Co-listed with Kellye Lynn | DRE 01962469
