Bottling Local Gold
Words, pix and vid by James Scolari Since the time of antiquity, cultures throughout the world have revered those arcane arts by which otherwise ordinary ingredients are blended to create savory elixirs. From those who produce wines and ales to the more potent practices that bring us spirits and liqueurs, to the layman’s eye such artisans practice a sort of alchemy; the art shrouded in mystery, but the result coveted by refined palettes everywhere. While... Read More
The gift that keeps on giving…
Tis the Season to give the gift that gives back to our community. By Kat Merrick It’s well known that small businesses are not only the backbone of our economy, they’re the heart of our community. With Christmas just around the corner, and as we all hustle about to get our holiday shopping done, why not earmark some portion of your spending to local small business? Consider it an investment in community — one that pays off in community... Read More
Thanks, berry much
Part 5 of our history of Gold Coast Agriculture, as the Strawberry is crowned king. By Chris Sayer The world was changing rapidly in the 1950’s. The economic and population boom that followed the Second World War was keenly felt in Southern California. Ventura County agriculture began another period of change as well. Huge population growth in Orange County and the San Fernando Valley began to absorb cropland and displace farmers. With... Read More
All’s fair in love and gourds
Dinner At the Pumpkin Patch wraps up the 2011 TLVC dining series with a bang photo by Robert Lemaire by James Scolari Autumn, we love you and your glorious days of bounty. Since the time we first dared to conspire with the soil to not merely sow but intentionally reap, autumn has been our time to hail the fertile goddess with thanks and celebration. Between summer’s toil and winter’s chill lies the splendid autumn and its iconic horn of... Read More
The Stalk Market Boom
The crops that most readily come to mind when discussing Ventura County agriculture are usually sweet and juicy, like strawberries or pixie tangerines. Or celery. by Chris Sayer Celery? That’s correct. More crunchy than sweet, celery may not seem like the sort of sexy produce that would come from Ventura County, but 2010 saw $182 million dollars of it grown on local farms. After the mid July release of the annual crop report, many were surprised... Read More
Splendid fungus among us
The California Mushroom Farm is Ventura’s largest private employer, and a better neighbor than most realize… by James Scolari The buildings are enormous utilitarian bricks, ranked with evenly-spaced, plain green doors, in vertical pairs, twenty-plus feet apart. Pick any of the nondescript green doors, each bearing a single white number; inside, just to the right, a wooden staircase ascends to a second level and another room identical... Read More
…And a good time was had by all
TLVC’s “Dinner At the City” offered the locavore’s dream, and a bit of something for everyone Words and pix by James Scolari Creative@JamesScolari.com As the Bard famously penned, “There’s nothing new under the sun;” especially among the cosmopolitan set, it’s not easy to find an evening offering an experience that isn’t “old hat.” Thus what a challenge was undertaken last week with Totally Local VC’s groundbreaking event... Read More
The Main Ingredient
Ventura Chef Rachel Main, whose cuisine will topline this week’s “Dinner At the City,” elevates “homegrown” to an art form. by D.K. Crawford thefoodsavant@gmail.com Chef Rachel Main. Photo by D.K. Crawford One of the Gold Coast’s most influential players in the Locavore movement, Chef Rachel Main of Main Course California has the curriculum vitae of a seasoned chef (Thomas Keller’s French Laundry anyone?), and the... Read More
Playing at WORP Speed
An eclectic trio that’s easy to hear, but hard to pin down by James Scolari jimscolari@yahoo.com Aaron Winters, Jim Rankin and Hans Ottsen (right to left) -- WORP Trio, at a recent gig. Photo by James Scolari It’s a scene familiar to most who step out into the nightlife – people scattered about tables, eating and drinking, others perched on barstools, doing the same, servers and bartenders working the room. Anticipation is in the air as... Read More
If you build it, they will come…
First the Mission, then the water, then the ranchos… and Ventura ag is off and running. By Chris Sayer The establishment of Mission San Buenaventura in 1782 marked the beginning of agriculture in our region. The climate was ideally suited to the crops that the Spanish knew well from centuries of cultivation in their homeland, as well as some others discovered during the era of Spanish exploration. The Mission soon sprouted gardens, orchards,... Read More
