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“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out on the inside ”
– Mark Twain

Ventura County neighbors, thank you for joining us this week. Summer came and went as quickly as ever. Kids are going back to school. Blink your eyes and it will be 2025. Before you have a panic attack, let’s focus on the positive. If you continue reading, you’ll get some pretty sweet restaurant recommendations. This week’s wave is about something essential to mankind: food. I will share some of my favorite haunts in the county and give you a couple of not-so-top-secret recipes. Eating brings people together, encourages sharing and storytelling, and nourishes our bodies. Throw a bit of alcohol 🍻 🍷 in the mix, and the stories become louder and more outlandish. Without further ado, let’s catch this week’s wave.

This week, The Neighborly Wave will cover:

• Timeline of Culinary events

• Real estate news brought to you by The L Cee Group

• My favorite places to eat in the county

• Not-so-top-secret recipes

• Local News

• Weather

A Timeline of Culinary Events

The origins of cooking are obscure; however, archaeologists have uncovered tools, seeds, and pottery that give us a glimpse into past culinary discoveries. The first cooked meats may have happened accidentally in a forest fire; what a fortunate and delicious discovery. (my apologies, vegans) Below are interesting culinary facts and discoveries throughout the centuries.

-11,000 BC. Flint-edged wood sickles were used to harvest grains.

-9,000 BC. Plant cultivation begins in the fertile crescent of the Middle East. 🌱

-6,000 BC. Cattle begin to be domesticated 🐄

-3,500 BC. Bread making begins in Egypt 🫓

-2,500 BC. Corn is domesticated in MesoAmerica 🌽

-4 BC Archestratus, a Greek Poet creates the first cook book. 📖

-1432 AD. Caviar is first mentioned as an h’ordeuvere

-1519-1524 Chocolate is introduced into Spain as a beverage. The Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes introduced the drink following his expedition to present day Mexico, where it was taken from the Aztec King Montezuma 🍫

-1550 The world’s first cafe was opened in Constantinople. ☕️

-1600’s British Merchants formed the East India Trading company bringing foreign teas into England & the American Colonies 🫖

-1660 American cultivated strawberries are introduced to Europe 🍓

-1782-1786 Chef Antoine B. Beauliivier is credited with opening the first modern restaurant. The restaurant was intended for aristocrats, and featured a formal dining room, expansive kitchen, and a wine cellar. Chef Antoine had well trained servers, & cooks adding to the overall dining experience. (Public eating places have existed since ancient times, but the modern version of restaurants meaning “to restore” did not come exist until the 18th century) 👨‍🍳

-1809 A French Inventor named Nicola Appert develops the process for “canning” food. This inspired British Merchant Peter Durand to patent the idea for tin canning, drastically changing the way we store and preserve food.

-1834 Jacob Perkins, an American Engineer patented the first practical ice making machine. (Shout out to Jacob for this one 👏)

-1860’s A Uniquely American Product, chewing gum is created.

-1875 Milk Chocolate is created by adding condensed milk to cocoa mass, sugar, and butter, making it less bitter and more palatable than dark chocolate.

-1906 Upton Sinclair’s novel “The Jungle” describes the horrible unsanitary conditions of US meatpacking warehouses, and led to Theodore Roosevelt’s formation of the US Pure Food & Drug Act

-1945 After WWII Plastic Bottles and Aerosols are first introduced 😬

-1955 Ray Croc opens the first McDonald’s Franchise in Illinois after purchasing the rights from the original owners in San Bernardino. It’s all been downhill from there.

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My favorite places to eat in each city.

Thousand Oaks:

For Dinner:

Mastros Steakhouse: This isn’t a place I get to dine at often, which makes it all the more special. Everything is incredibly expensive. If you are a review reader like myself, you will notice that almost every single review mentions the high cost. Those same reviews, typically mention the incredible quality of food and service that accompanies the high prices. The appetizers, wine by the glass, cocktails and steaks are all carefully crafted. There aren’t many places that can get away with charging $40 for sides, but that is exactly the price of Mastro’s famous lobster mashed potatoes. The next time you get a job promotion, tax refund, or inheritance, you should give Mastro’s a try.

Casual dining: 

Tarantula Hill Brewery

Let’s be honest; this is more about the beer than the food. If I had to rank the offerings at Tarantula it would be 1. beer. 2. ice cream 3. food. Half the time, I skip the food and just go for the first 2. If you’ve never had two pints of amber Mexican lager, two scoops of ice cream, and a tummy ache before 9 p.m on a Friday night, you just haven’t lived, partner.

Honorable Mention: Fogo de Chao This is exclusively for the all-day happy hour at the bar. They have a fantastic $10 burger that comes with crispy polenta fries. It’s the best deal in town. Check out a photo below:

Oxnard:

Favorite Place for Dinner:

This one is a toss-up for me. It’s between 1901 and Larsen’s. Let’s start with the similarities. They both offer prime cuts of USDA beef. They have extensive wine lists, delicious craft cocktails, and exceptional service. The dining rooms, however, are drastically different. The dining room at Larsen’s is what you would expect from a traditional steakhouse. A mix of tables and booths, with wine glasses preset upon arrival. 1901’s dining rooms are spread out amongst a refurbished colonial home, giving the feeling of elegant Southern dining. Regarding the drinks, Larsen’s is in competition with 1 other bar for my favorite whiskey sour ever. 1901 has a speakeasy in the basement that cranks out very elaborate cocktails ranging from the classics to more modern, unique libations.

Casual Dining:

I’m going to give you a three for 1 here. When I’m in the mood to eat healthy, I love the Santorini Bowl from Luna Grill. It’s inexpensive, delicious, and loaded with different ingredients. I am not one of those eaters that can’t have different ingredients touch other ingredients; I can have an array of ingredients, all touching, all in one bite preferably. “muah,” chef’s kiss. 💋

When I’m in the mood to be a big fat pig 🐽, the sandwiches from Harbor Mart are hard to beat. The Pastrami is one of my faves, but when I’m really feeling disgusting, I go for the heart-attack burger. It’s equal parts delicious and messy. This is not the type of burger you eat when things are going well. This is to be eaten post-break-up, when your grandma dies, or before you go to jail. This is a burger for bachelors. If there is a romantic interest in your life, eat this burger in secrecy and never tell a soul. If I’m not in the mood for sandwiches but still want something rich in flavor, Smoking Jay’s is the place to satisfy that craving. The specials rotate daily, and they have killer side dishes. The smoked brisket and birria tacos with consomme are my favorite items.

Santa Paula:

For dinner:

El Pescador has locations in Santa Paula & Fillmore. They have a HUGE menu that features a combination of seafood dishes like ceviche, whole fried fish, and aquachiles, as well as the traditional hot Mexican dishes that you would expect like enchiladas, chile relleno, and carne asada. If you are a seafood lover, I would recommend the Fiesta del Mar, it is a sampler platter of different types of ceviche, oysters, and shrimp al diabla.

Casual Dining:

Carnitas El Rey all day! I’m not sure what they do differently, but whatever they do works. Carnitas are notorious for being dry, but I’ve eaten leftovers from here days later, which were still moist. It’s not often I end up with leftovers, because I can demolish a family meal for four by myself, but that’s neither here nor there. The other stand-out here is the rice. I always end up ordering an extra. The pico de gallo is made fresh daily, as is their salsas. They offer a red and a green, the green is for the gringos, and the red is for the locos. 🌶 🔥 Carnitas El Rey also has locations in Oxnard & Ventura!

Ventura:

Favorite place for dinner:

Model Citizen

Talk about a cute spot. Model Citizen is one of the newer restaurants in Ventura. The dishes are creative, the ingredients are locally sourced, and they change menu items regularly. I’ve been here several times, and have worked my way through their offerings. This is the type of place that makes you dance in your seat when you see each plate presented in front of you. Each new bite bringing out sounds of “mmmmmhhmm, oh ya, that’s my new favorite!”

Casual Dining:

Transmission Brewing & Fluid State Beer Garden

This is another one of those toss-ups for me. I grew up on Toppers. I love it, I never get sick of it, and I miss it whenever I’m away. It’s one of my favorite comfort foods. Throw in an array of craft beers, TV’s that still show cable and local sports, plus a view of the Pacific Ocean… That’s pretty tough to beat.

Fluid State is the cool hipster spot where many mustached men like to hang out, and for good reason. The sourdough pizza is crispy, light, and flavorful. The simple green salad is one of my favorites, and their chicken wings are next level. They rotate the beer selection so often, I don’t believe I’ve ever had the same beer twice.

Camarillo:

Favorite Place for Dinner:

Latitude 34.

This restaurant is hidden off Ventura Blvd. in the Camarillo Premium Outlets. It has a modern interior, a large outdoor patio, and a diverse but approachable menu. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. I recommend the arancini and the filet mignon bites. The filet mignon bites come with pickled ginger, an excellent palette cleanser, and if you know me, you know I’m a massive fan of all things pickled.

Casual Dining:

I’m hooking you up with another 2 for 1. Basil & Mint Vietnamese Cafe & The Amendment. Can you believe I didn’t try Pho until I was in college? It’s mildly embarrassing. A friend took me to Pho 999 in the valley (It’s still there) and I tried Pho for the very first time. It was love at first bite, slurp? Who knows? But love is love. Now I get my fix for Vietnamese at Basil & Mint. During the warm Southern California months, I opt for the vermicelli bowl called “Bún” with beef, chicken, egg rolls, and extra fish sauce. If it’s chilly or rainy, I order the beef broth Pho Dac Biet, and when I have a mild cold and feel like I’m dying, I go for the chicken broth PhoGa. Basil & Mint has a full bar which is fairly uncommon for Vietnamese restaurants, and they have a speakeasy attached to it called “The Amendment” I mentioned the whiskey sour from Larsen’s earlier. I would have to do a blind taste test to determine my favorite because the Amendments are equally exceptional. This place also changed my opinion on Gin. I went from thinking it was disgusting to still thinking it’s gross unless it’s prepared as a “Drops of Juniper,” my favorite summertime cocktail.

Ojai

For Dinner:

The Dutchess

This is another restaurant that won me over with the very first bite. The dishes are meant to be shared, and I’ve been fortunate enough to share quite a few of them with some of my more adventurous foodie friends; you know who you are 😉. The most flavorful salad I’ve ever had came from here. It was replaced a few months later with an even better salad. I’m a big fan of vegetables and enjoy starting a meal with something light and fresh. It tricks me into thinking I’m making balanced decisions. It’s not often that the salad steals the show; that’s the level of thought going into each and every dish at The Dutchess. I’m also a fan of more “gamey” proteins, and there is no shortage of lamb, goat, and duck on the menu. I would recommend arriving hungry, although a lot of the dishes do travel well if you want to take home leftovers.

For something a little more relaxed: Little Sama Ojai at Topa Topa Brewery. Little Sama is a little place with BIG flavor. It is located inside of the Topa Topa Brewery, to the side of the main bar. They offer Asian fusion-style dishes in a counter-service format. The food comes out quickly, and it does not disappoint. Check out a photo below:

Favorite places outside of the county:

If you are willing to drive for a beautiful dining experience, I have a few places to put on your radar. First we have Castaway in the city of Burbank. You’ve probably never had a reason to go to Burbank. Now you do. Castaway covers all of the bases for a romantic dinner. Beautiful layout, incredible sweeping views of the city, impeccable service, and a 🔥🔥🔥 menu. This place can be a bit of a scene, especially on the patio. EVERYONE wants to sit on the patio, and EVERYONE wants to take photos. If you’re easily bothered by people taking photos, this may not be the place for you, but if you need to upgrade your IG profile, definitely make a reservation. The patio is first come, first served, so I hope you enjoy early dinners.

You may have noticed that I don’t list a single spot for sushi. That’s for good reason. I’m admittedly a sushi snob, and Ventura County has gotten away with serving subpar sushi for far too long. I’ll give you two honorable mentions that I find to be palatable but never crave-able and then give you my top choices outside the county. Anaba Sushi in Oxnard near the Channel Islands Harbor has good nigiri. Slate in Camarillo also has good nigiri. I specify nigiri, because it is how sushi should be enjoyed. I do not eat rolls or anything doused in Mayo 💁‍♂️ Sorry, that was the sushi snob speaking.

The good news is, you don’t have to go too far to get incredibly fresh fish with beautiful sushi rice (The rice is vital, both in size & texture) Westlake Village has 3 above average sushi joints: I’m listing them in no particular order: Tomodachi (this is your fairly traditional sushi joint) No frills, no hard liquor, incredibly fresh fish, and perfect sushi rice. Seabutter is on the newer side, I believe they opened this year. It’s in a small space on the Westlake promenade. The restaurant is very bright and cute, and I was impressed by the quality of their fish and service. The rice is also 👌. Hikari Sushi; This is another fairly traditional-looking sushi joint. They offer a version of omakase called sushi deluxe (which consists of ten pieces of the chef’s favorite nigiri. I’ve yet to be disappointed with this option.

Suppose you find yourself with an extra bitcoin that you were previously unaware of and want to spend it in the most delicious way possible. In that case, I recommend Sushi by Scratch Restaurant in Montecito. I’ve only been once, but it was my best dining experience in 2022.

Not so top-secret recipes:

First, we have one of my favorites: a simple roasted chicken. Unless you opt for Mary's air-chilled chickens, most store-bought chickens absorb water during the cooling process. Regardless of your chicken choice, I like to start the preparation 1 day before roasting. For this recipe, all you really need is kosher salt and a cast iron skillet. Additional seasonings can be added to your liking, i.e. pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic, Italian seasoning, and butter, but they aren’t necessary to get a juicy chicken with crispy skin.

Step 1. Pull your chicken out of it’s wrapping, remove the insides, and pat dry it as best you can with a paper towel.

Step 2. Add kosher salt to ALL PARTS of the chicken, and rub it in gently. I cannot emphasize the importance of salting enough. My culinary mentor always hammered home the point, that salting the meat was the most important part of preparation, and it must be taken seriously. (If you would like to add additional seasonings, now is the time to do so)

Step 3. Place the chicken in a cast iron skillet, and leave it in the fridge uncovered for a day

Step 4: I like to pull the chicken out of the fridge 30-40 minutes before roasting it to get closer to room temperature. This also gives you time to pre-heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. If you have a convection oven, I recommend using that setting.

Step 5. Keep the chicken in the cast iron skillet and place it on the center rack of the oven. Set a timer for 20 minutes. During roasting, you will flip the chicken over twice: once at the 20-minute mark and again at 40 minutes. The chicken will roast for a total of 60 minutes

Step 6. After 60 minutes, your chicken skin should look nice and crispy. Remove the cast iron skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest uncovered for 15 minutes.

Step 7. Carve & Enjoy 🍗

Chimichurri Recipe

2 cups Italian flat leaf parsley 6 heads of garlic 4 TSP Dry Oregano 2/3 cups extra virgin olive oil, or olive/avocado blend 4 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar 1 Tsp Kosher Salt ¼ Tsp fine ground black pepper 1 TBSP Red Chili Flakes ½ cup local honey

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend well. Add a touch of water or oil to alter the consistency. This goes great over red meat, but I’ve also used it as a salad dressing, dip, or spread.

Local News:

I hate writing negative stories, but this is another one that will affect all California drivers. California auto insurance policies are expected to increase as much as 50% this year. Some of you may have already noticed increases in premiums. Insurance companies are citing losses due to damage from storms and wildfires, as well as inflationary pressures due to the rising cost of new vehicles and auto repairs. Some insurance companies have decided to stop doing business in the state. Insurance rates were frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading some companies to ask for double-digit increases in premiums. Long story short, stay safe out there, stay off your phone, and always check your blind spots before switching lanes.

To become more informed on all things energy, use the QR Codes below to listen to energy experts discuss topics like nuclear waste, government energy policies, hydrogen power, and power grid expansion.

Weather

Oxnard

Ventura

Camarillo

Thousand Oaks

Santa Paula

Simi Valley

Message from the editors:

None of the restaurants mentioned in this week’s newsletter paid for promotion. They are all personal favorites of mine. If there are any places you haven’t heard of, or have been meaning to try, take this as your sign to get in there! As always, if you found anything in this article to be particularly savory, feel free to share it with your foodie friends. Thank you. Good Bye.