Saturday, July 17, 2010

Drop what you're doing and eat this

If you haven't been to Bonanos yet, the list of reasons why you need to has just gotten a bit longer. Their Peruvian food is de-lish, the service wonderful, and the atmosphere relaxing and not what you would expect in this little strip mall on Ashwood Avenue in Ventura. Check out these reviews in the VC Star, VC Reporter, and on Gayot. Chef Dante Balarezo has recently added a few new fresh seafood dishes to his already rockin' menu. The new dishes include Tiradito en cremas de aji amarillo y rocoto (sashimi style fish with aji amarillo sauce, pictured above), and Causa de cangrejo (layers of pressed potato with crab meat and avocado, pictured below).

Rainbow Bridge, the neighborhood health food store in Ojai, has an expansion in the works. Though they are still digging their way through red tape and County checklists, it should be open sometime early this Fall. They are taking over the space that used to house the local sporting goods store; and once complete, the Rainbow Warehouse will offer bulk oils, agave syrup, vinegars, honey, syrup, bath salts, detergents, and hand soap. There will also be gifts, stress reduction machines, and much more. And if you haven't stopped by Rainbow Bridge lately, they just added a water station outside the store, where customers can bring their own containers to be filled with fresh, filtered water. This is one of the many ways that Rainbow Bridge is trying to do right by the environment, by cutting back on the number of plastic water bottles filling our landfills.


The Cave at Ventura Wine Company has a new small plates menu if you're looking for a good reason to stop by for a sip of wine and a bite of food. Here are just a few to pique your interest:

BBQ Pork Tenderloin, Southern Slaw and Texas Cornbread $7
Penne with Mussels, Clams and Roasted Corn $7
Island Brew Company Battered Catfish with Spicy Cajun Pepper Sauce and Dirty Rice $8
The Cave "Rap & Roll": Ahi Tuna, Avocado, Sprouts, Cucumber and Creamy Spiced Rice $8
Scallops New Orleans, Potato Cake and Endive Salad $8
Summer Grilled Potato, Seared Pancetta and Napa Cabbage Salad $7
Herbed Cheese Polenta with House Pomodoro $6

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