Honeyfish Poke Coming Soon to Westlake Village

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UPDATE: Opened on Friday, April 29th.

Honeyfish Poke is coming soon to the former home of Pinkberry at 3835 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Westlake Village.

Poke (pronounced Po-Kay) is raw fish salad made popular in Hawaii. Honeyfish Poke offers customizable Poke bowls with tuna, yellowtail, albacore, salmon, shrimp, cooked crabmeat, cooked lobster meat, tofu and other options combined with toppings like edamame, carrots, wasabi peas and sauces.  Sounds pretty darn good to me!

Honeyfish Poke is expanding to the Conejo Valley from its other location on Tampa Avenue in Northridge. Stay tuned! Learn more at www.honeyfishpoke.com.

Thanks for the heads up from Amelia S. via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page!

Vintage Grocers to Open 2nd Location at The Promenade at Westlake in Fall 2016

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Vintage Grocers, a curated community-minded market and retailer of gourmet, organic, natural and conventional foods, will be coming to The Promenade at Westlake in fall 2016. Vintage Grocers' first location is at the Trancas Country Market located in Malibu.

Double the size of the current store, the Westlake Village Vintage Grocers location will offer an even wider range of in-store products from the finest meats, produce and seafood to fruits, vegetables and more— sourced from Southern California’s leading food establishments and local artisans.

Further enhancing the new space, Vintage Grocers at The Promenade at Westlake will feature a private wine tasting room, fresh poke, olive bars, as well as pressed juices daily. In addition, the new store will include expanded bakery, meat and seafood selections, and a variety of grab-and-go stations such as burrito, pizza, ice cream and coffee bars.

Vintage Grocers at The Promenade at Westlake is scheduled to open in fall 2016. For more information about Vintage Grocers visit www.vintagegrocers.com and for more information about The Promenade at Westlake visit www.shoppromenade.com.  

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in January-February 2016

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The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects 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 facility closures were noted in January and February 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

February 2016

B & J Drive In, 1323 Los Angeles Avenue, Ventura; Unsanitary conditions, serious and repeated violations; Date closed - 02/25/16; Date reopened - 02/26/16

Burger King #1783, 1152 Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley; Sewage overflowing within the facility; Date closed - 02/25/16; No reopen date

Ralph's Grocery #62 (Fish/Seafood only), 615 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing; Date closed - 02/24/16; Date reopened - 02/25/16

Stagecoach Station, 12679 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Ojai; No toilet facilities available for employees; Date closed - 02/24/16; Date reopened - 02/24/16

Jasmine Thai Restaurant, 1145 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura; Inadequate refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures; Date closed - 02/18/16; Date reopened - 02/19/16

Carniceria Mexicana El Rio, 2651 Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 02/08/16; Date reopened - 02/11/16

Galletto Bar & Grill, 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 02/04/16; Date reopened - 02/05/16

Thousand Wok Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, 450 N. Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing; Date closed - 02/04/16; Date reopened - 02/05/16

La Terraza, 1000 E. Main Street, Santa Paula; Blocked drainline resulting in inoperable plumbing; Date closed - 02/04/16; Date reopened - 02/05/16

Joi Cafe, 2855 Agoura Road, Thousand Oaks; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 02/04/16; Date reopened - 02/05/16

January 2016

Exotic Thai Bistro, 1555 Town Center Way, Simi Valley; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/29/16;Date reopened - 01/31/16

El Tapatio, 663 S Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard; No valid permit to operate; Date closed 01/21/16; Date reopened - 01/29/16

Buenaventura Bar & Grill, 5880 Olivas Park Road, Ventura; Inoperable plumbing; Date closed - 01/25/16; Date reopened - 01/25/16

Del Taco #177, 2990 Cochran Street, Simi Valley; No warewashing sink, or food preparation sink available; Date closed - 01/22/16; Date reopened - 01/23/16

Mercado Numero Uno, 1616 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley; Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/21/16; Date reopened - 01/22/16

Prime Steakhouse, 2009 Thompson Blvd., Ventura; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/20/16; Date reopened - 01/21/16

Outback Steakhouse, 2341 Lockwood Street, Oxnard; Sewage overflowing within the food facility, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/19/16; Date reopened - 01/20/16

Thousand Wok Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, 450 N. Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks; Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/13/16; Date reopened - 01/14/16

Peking Restaurant, 5960 Telegraph Road, Ventura; Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement; Date closed - 01/12/16; Date reopened - 01/13/16

Marisco El Campeon, 1175 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement; Date closed - 01/12/16; Date reopened - 01/13/16

Sushi Ichiban,  207 E. Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing, Inoperable hand washing facilities and unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/12/16; Date reopened - 01/13/16

Rachada Thai Cuisine, 525 New Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing; Date closed - 01/11/16; Date reopened - 01/11/16

Mia's Place, 1129 Petit Avenue, Ventura; Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to compliance agreement; Date closed - 01/11/16; Date reopened - 01/12/16

Sea Casa, 1014 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake; Cockroach infestation, leak through ceiling into food preparation area, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/07/16; Date reopened - 01/08/16

Las Sirenas Bar and Grill, 2091 N. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard; Inoperable equipment, unsanitary conditions, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement; Date closed - 01/06/16; Date reopened - 01/11/16

Blenders In The Grass, 1225 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard; No hot water available for hand washing or utensil washing; Date closed - 01/06/16; Date reopened - 01/07/16

Popeye's Chicken, 1900 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard; Facility not fully enclosed ceiling/roof water leak, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/06/16; Date reopened - 01/06/16

Pookie's Thai Westlake, 900 Hampshire Road, Thousand Oaks; Rodent infestation, leak through ceiling into food preparation area, unsanitary conditions; Date closed - 01/05/16; Date reopened - 01/06/16

Red Lobster Thousand Oaks Closed Its Doors Today

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Melissa B tipped us off via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page tonight that today was the last day that the Red Lobster at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks was open. 

Yes, you heard that right. After operating at this location for 5 years and 2 months, the Red Lobster Thousand Oaks is closed. This was confirmed with a phone call to the restaurant, which indicated "As of February 28, 2016, this restaurant is permanently closed" and referenced locations in Oxnard and Canoga Park.

What's next for this location, sandwiched between Olive Garden and Bank of America in the east Oaks Mall parking lot? We shall see.

The Napa Tavern in Westlake Village Closed its Doors on February 23, 2016

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Melissa W gave us the heads up via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook page that The Napa Tavern at 101 S. Westlake Boulevard has closed its doors.  The official note on its website reads as follows:

To all of our loyal friends and customers,

We would like to thank you for your support and patronage over the last 5 years. We are saddened to inform you that as of February 23rd, 2016 we will be closing our doors. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. It was our privilege to be a part of this community and we greatly appreciate all of the years you have allowed us to serve you.

Sincerely, The Napa Tavern

Melissa also indicated that it appears a steakhouse will be going into the spot. Stay tuned.

Los Angeles Rams to Hold Spring Practices in Oxnard from April 18 to June 17, 2016

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On February 23rd, the Oxnard City Council approved a lease agreement between the Los Angeles Rams and the City, permitting the Rams to hold spring practices in Oxnard from April 18-June 17, 2016. The practices will be held at the River Ridge fields, located near the corner of Ventura Road and Vineyard Avenue.

The Dallas Cowboys will utilize the same practice facilities for their summer camp later this year. In contrast to summer camps, spring mini camps are less formal, do not include players in pads, and are generally not open to the public. Last year, the Rams and Cowboys held a joint practice that drew several thousand fans to the City. Although there are no plans to open spring practices to the public, the option has not been ruled out.

The Rams will use the on-site locker room facilities from March 28 - June 24 , 2016 and the football fields from April 18 – June 17.

The Rams’ spring training camp will not affect the Cowboys’ summer camp plans.

Bristol Farms at The Promenade at Westlake to Close Its Doors on March 15th

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This morning, Bristol Farms at The Promenade at Westlake announced it will be closing its doors after 20 years, on March 15, 2016. Sorry to hear of the closing and for employees and customers impacted by this long-time local residents. It was apparent from the comments in this Facebook post that many loved this store and more than a few were particularly fond of their ahi poke and tuna salad.

Most items are 20 to 40% off. Stay tuned for what is next.