Maria's Italian Kitchen Opened at The Collection at RiverPark Last Weekend (Closed April 2020)

/

UPDATE APRIL 2020: This Maria’s location closed its doors in April 2020.

Well finally it has happened...Maria's Italian Kitchen at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard opened last weekend. We have been waiting for this since The Collection made the original announcement in August 2013. It is located on Seaglass Way, directly across the street from REI and next to GEN Korean BBQ House. "Real Italian Food by Real Italian Women" - a family run Napolitano style Italian fare. Learn more at www.mariasitaliankitchen.com or call 805.988.3300.

 

 

Pieology Opening 2nd Conejo Valley Pizzeria in Westlake Village

/

Update 2/4/15: According to folks at the Thousand Oaks location, the new Westlake Village location is anticipated to open on Monday, February 16th.

Posted 9/26/14: Pieology is opening a second pizzeria in the Conejo Valley, at the former ZPizza location, 5776 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. The indicate it will open in December. The first Conejo Valley Pieology opened in Thousand Oaks in August 2013. Learn more about Pieology at www.pieology.com.

On a recent visit to Pieology Thousand Oaks I customized my pie with sausage, meatballs and olives.

"Make your own" pizza is all the rage these days and is the fastest growing food concept since frozen yogurt it seems:

The Collection at RiverPark Announces Sweet Shop It'Sugar to Open in 2015

/

Recently The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard announced that trendy sweets shop It'Sugar will be opening there sometime this year. Founded in 2006, this speciality candy and gift retailer has grown to over 70 locations worldwide, including local stores at Universal Citywalk, Venice Beach, Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and Pasadena.

Offering novelty candy, gummy candy, suckers, chocolate, mints and gum, nostalgic candy, bulk candy, Asian candies, Jelly Belly, "Perfect Size" and Oversize candies, novelties, wearables, plush items, branded items featuring SNL, Frozen, Grumpy Cat, Disney and much more. Visit www.itsugar.com for more information.

 

 

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures November 2014 to January 2015

/

The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following closures were noted in August through October. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

January 2015


Guido's Pizza and Pasta, 1877 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 01/27/15; Date reopened - No reopen date

Chuy's, 311 Carmen Drive, Camarillo;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 01/27/15; Date reopened - 01/28/15

Wendy's, 2010 N. Rose Avenue, Oxnard;

No toilet facilities available for employees;

Date closed - 01/20/15; Date reopened - 01/20/15

Azu, 457 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 01/14/15; Date reopened - 01/15/15

Guido's Pizza and Pasta, 1877 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley;

Rodent infestation, cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 01/12/15; Date reopened - 01/13/15

Marie Callender's, 1295 S. Victoria Avenue, Vent

Read More

NOM Tequila Grill Opened Last Fall at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach

/

NOM Tequila Grill opened last November at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach in the former home of C Street Restaurant. NOM features authentic Mexican fare from various regions south of the border, including favorite dishes from Guadalajara, Puebla, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Yucatan and central Mexico. Ingredients are farm fresh and locally sourced.

NOM is short for Norma Oficial Mexicana and is a stamp of authenticity for 100% Mexican agave tequila. The restaurant incorporates tequila into many of its dishes. It offers mixed cocktails and 17 different kinds of tequila from the bar. The ambiance is friendly yet casually upscale.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, 450 East Harbor Blvd., Ventura. Learn more at nomtequilagrill.com or by calling 805-652-5151.

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato Opened Today at The Shoppes at Westlake Village

/

Update January 26, 2015: Tifa Westlake at 30760 Russell Ranch Road, Suite A, Westlake Village is now open to the public!

Originally posted July 30, 2014:

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato will be opening a location at The Shoppes at Westlake Village. Tifa serves up gelato, handmade chocolates, artisan chocolate bars, European drinking chocolate and espresso drinks at its current location at Whizin Market Square, 28888 Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills. That would make these locations about four miles apart, which is fine by me when chocolate is involved!

Watch for updates here or at shoppesatwestlakevillage.com.

Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que in Thousand Oaks Recently Closed its Doors

/

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page follower Kimberlea A pointed out tonight that, according to her hubby, the Thousand Oaks location of Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que (3980 Thousand Oaks Boulevard) recently closed its doors. This was confirmed by a phone call to the Simi Valley Town Center location, not to mention that lack of any mention of the Thousand Oaks location on the Famous Dave's website at www.famousdaves.com.

Those who enjoy their BBQ can still enjoy it at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard and the Simi Valley Town Center. UPDATE: I take that back…both of these locations have since closed and the nearest Famous Dave’s locations to Thousand Oaks are in Irvine and Rancho Cucamonga.

Pearl District Restaurant Opened in Westlake Village on Sunday, December 28th

/

Pearl District Restaurant opened in the Westlake Plaza at 983 S. Westlake Boulevard, #8, Westlake Village, adjacent to Sprouts, in late December. This was the former home of Fin's Seafood Grill, which closed last year.

The restaurant is named after an urban area of Portland, Oregon, formerly occupied by warehouses, light industry and railroad yards that has been redeveloped and is now noted for art galleries, upscale businesses and residences.

Pearl District's menu, available on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pearldistrictrestaurant, includes entrees like grilled Scottish salmon with okinawa sweet potato puree, edaname, Asian mushroom vinaigrette, scallions and daikon sprouts, grilled prime filet mignon with truffle-chive yukon gold potato puree, grilled asparagus and crispy maui onions and southern fried chicken breast with garlic mashers, brussels sprouts, collard greens, double smoked bacon and green tomato jam. Sounds pretty good to me!

Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market Opening in Westlake Village on February 2nd

/
MendocinoFarmsWLV.JPG

Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market is opening on Monday, February 2nd in The Westlake Plaza at 966 S. Westlake Boulevard. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Mendocino Farms is a gourmet sandwich shop that incorporates local produce in their sandwiches, salads and soups. The name of the eatery pays tribute to the county in Northern California known for its support of the Slow Food Movement and Sustainable Farming.

Their menu includes items like the Chicken MBT (shaved, roasted free range chicken breast, local Gioia fresh mozzarella, house marinated red peppers, basil pesto, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, Scarborough Farm’s greens on ciabatta), Modern Tuna Melt (all white albacore tuna with fresh herbs, farmhouse cheddar, vegenaise, housemade pickles, red onions, tomatoes, Scarborough Farm’s greens on panini grilled buckwheat) and Prosciutto & Free Range Chicken (Creminelli prosciutto & shaved, roasted free range chicken breast with local Gioia fresh mozzarella, crushed honey roasted almonds, basil pesto, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes on panini grilled ciabatta).

Additionally, you can "build your own" sandwiches and salads using a number of fresh ingredients.

About half the items on the menu can be ordered gluten-free on request.

Founded in 2005 by Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, Mendocino Farms aims to reconstruct fine dining entrees to the sandwich level and take classic regional sandwiches and give them a modern interpretation. The menu created by Chef Partner Judy Han features adventurous takes on traditional sandwiches like the Pork Belly Banh Mi with caramelized Kurabuta pork belly and the "Not So Fried" Chicken with fresh roasted free range chicken, fried crispies and finished with a house pickle-mustard slaw.

This is the 9th location of Mendocino Farms, which has seven Los Angeles County locations and one in Orange County. To learn more, visit www.mendocinofarms.com.

Incidentally, this is the former home of Jack's Deli, which closed its doors in November 2011. That said, this newly remodeled eatery looks nothing like the Jack's Deli that brings memories of yesteryear!

A trip down memory lane...Jack's Deli in 2011.

A trip down memory lane...Jack's Deli in 2011.