| Ventura County Fresh and Local | |
Eating Fresh and Local By Mira Reverente
 Visions of freshness and sustainability also prompted Chef Alberto Vazquez of Mediterraneo, a bistro located at the Westlake Village Inn, to grow his own herb garden on the hotel’s premises. Vazquez says, “In the spring and mid-summer, we get 50 percent of our herbs from our own backyard. We order the rest of our produce needs from local farmers.” The hotel’s green initiatives include recycling old menus and last year, planting its own vineyard. The first harvest is expected in 2011. The menus at Mediterraneo change an average of three times a year. Vazquez takes advantage of seasonal, locally-grown produce like persimmons, butternut squash, pomegranates, anise and cinnamon by incorporating them in the lunch and dinner selections. Top-selling items such as the Pan Plano Mediterraneo and the Endive Salad are usually available year-round. California wines, including some organic varieties, also make up 75 percent of the wine selection. Vegan and Vegetarian Mary Grayr, chef and owner of Mary’s Secret Garden in Ventura, is a farmers market habitué. “I like to buy fruits and vegetables when they are at the height of their flavors. I like giving my customers that taste bud explosion,” says Mary.  They have reason to be curious. Mary explains, “Everything on our menu is made-to-order and local. We purchase most of our ingredients from the local farmers market. People are actually surprised how tasty and flavorful vegan food is.” Top-sellers include The Secret Burger with a grilled soy patty, Fresh Thai Spring Rolls, Sun-dried Tomato Mushroom Pasta, smoothies, soups, coconut meat-cashew ice cream and organic wines. Low-calorie Even for non-vegans, dining out can be a challenge with various high-calorie and huge-portion temptations. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for most healthy adults is 2,000 to 2,500 calories, which Corner Bakery has in mind with their new “100 under 600” calorie-wise program. The “100 under 600” features more than 100 different soup, salad and sandwich combinations with less than 600 calories. Why 600 calories? “We followed the RDA guidelines and 600 calories seemed like a sensible amount for one meal. Our guests can still enjoy their favorite meals without making drastic changes to their diet,” says Ric Scicchitano, senior vice-president of food and beverage. Top-selling combinations across the 115 Corner Bakery locations include Chicken Pesto on Ciabatta and Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, Club Panini and Chicken Noodle Soup and Chicken Pomodoro Panini and Mixed Greens. Gluten-free What may just be an option for some can be a permanent lifestyle change for others. The gluten-free diet is an example, often the result of a celiac disease diagnosis. Celiac disease is a chronic digestive disorder found in individuals who experience a toxic immune response when they ingest gluten. It is a lifelong disease and has no cure. Wheat, barley, oats and rye are common sources of gluten. Some ingredients and additives such as spices, soy sauce, starch, flours, breads, cereals, crackers and condiments, may also contain gluten. Simply Gluten-Free, an independently-owned, specialty grocery in Thousand Oaks has cornered the market of this special segment of the population. “My partner, Jean Gordon was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007. Gluten-free products were hard to find, expired, out-of-stock or only available online,” recalls Debbie Sipos, one of the co-owners. Out of the 1,200 plus gluten-free products carried by the grocery, bread is the top-selling item. Doughnuts and frozen pizza are almost as popular. The frozen pizza is local, from Garlic Jim’s in Simi Valley, which is the first pizza chain to be accredited by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. Owner Tom Curiale recalls, “It got a lot of interest the first time we introduced it more than a year ago. A lot of people were intrigued and wanted to try the gluten-free pizzas ― even those people who could tolerate gluten.” The gluten-free pizzas made with rice-based flour are available in three varieties: cheese, pepperoni and vegetable. More and more restaurants like The Pizza Cookery in Woodland Hills are adding gluten-free options to their menus, making foods such as pizza available even to people who adhere to special diets. Mary’s Secret Garden’s menu is also 75 percent gluten-free. Various special diets Organic grocery chain Whole Foods Market also carries a line of gluten-free items. Most stores offer specialty-food items including wheat-free, dairy-free, fat-free, low sodium and vegetarian. The chain is known for its wide selection of natural and organic foods as well as its support of local growers.  Dana Lambert, media relations manager, is also proud of Sprouts’ local seafood varieties and produce, “Depending on the season, we will carry specialties such as Corvina sea bass, California halibut and swordfish. When the Thousand Oaks store opens, we expect to get coastal strawberries within 24- to 48-hours of being picked in Oxnard and Santa Maria.” Tough economic times can make dining out and food shopping more challenging. Stores are addressing the issue. “We work hard to cultivate relationships with both local and national suppliers to get the highest quality at the lowest prices possible. We believe that healthy eating can and should be affordable,” says Lambert.  Corner Bakery Cafe (neighborhood café) 111 S. Westlake Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362-3807 805.496.6993 1555 Simi Town Center Way Simi Valley, CA 93065 805.306.1892 4776 Commons Way Calabasas, CA 91302 818.876.7340 www.cornerbakerycafe.com Garlic Jim’s (gourmet and gluten-free pizza) 131-D Cochran St. Simi Valley, CA 93065 805.526.1500 www.garlicjims.com Mary’s Secret Garden (organic vegan bistro) 100 South Fir St. Ventura, CA 93001 805.641.3663 www.maryssecretgarden.com Mediterraneo (bistro at the Westlake Village Inn) 32037 Agoura Rd. Westlake Village CA 91361 818.889.9105 www.med-rest.com Simply Gluten Free (specialty grocery) 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. #A108 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805.777.4877 www.simply-glutenfree.com Sprouts Farmers Market (natural food supermarket) 600 W. Hillcrest Dr.* Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 *Opening in May 2010 www.sprouts.com Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market 805.529.6266 www.vccfarmersmarkets.com Farmers’ Market Locations: Ventura - Pacific View Mall West Parking Lot, north of Sears Wednesdays, 9 am to 1 pm Ventura – Downtown City Parking Lot Corner of Santa Clara and Palm Streets Saturdays, 8:30 am to 12 noon Thousand Oaks East End Parking Lot Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thursdays, 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm Santa Clarita College of the Canyons, Parking Lot 8 Valencia Blvd. and Rockwell Canyon Rd. Sundays, 8:30 am to 12 noon Moorpark Moorpark College Parking Lot G1 Campus Drive (near gym) Saturdays, 8:00 am to 12 noon (seasonal) Whole Foods Market (natural food supermarket) 740 North Moorpark Rd Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3705 805.777.4730 www.wholefoodsmarket.com |
WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, CALIFORNIANS ARE FORTUNATE. FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ABOUND AND ARE LOCALLY AVAILABLE. YEAR-ROUND, GOOD WEATHER MAKES THE APPROXIMATELY 75,000 FARMS AND RANCHES AROUND THE STATE THRIVE AND YIELD BOUNTIFUL HARVESTS.