Himalaya Restaurant Opening Soon in Thousand Oaks

Himalaya Restaurant opened its first location in Ventura County, at 35 W. Main Street in Ventura, in 2011. It has since garnered a solid 4 1/2 star Yelp rating with over 375 reviews, Himalaya serves cuisine from Nepal, India and Tibet.

And lo and behold, soon we will have our very own Himalaya at 720 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks (at Clay Ct.). (Does that location sound familiar? That's because it was the home of Gino's Trattoria, a Thousand Oaks fixture from August 1996 until it closed its doors in November 2015.)

Himalaya means "abode of snow." The Himalyan mountain range separates India from the Tibetan Plateau and includes over 100 mountains over 23,000 feet tall!

The menu at Himalaya sounds great and and is very affordable, with lunch specials, both vegetarian (like paneer tikka masala) and non-vegetarian (like chicken shahi karma), priced at $8.95, including soup of the day, a side dish, rice and mango chutney.

Owners indicate they are targeting an opening date this coming weekend. Follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/himalayacuisine for updates or visit www.himalayacuisine.com.

UPDATE: They indeed are now open.

Thanks to Jonathan Stewart for the heads up. Stewart, a local photographer, has traveled extensively to Nepal and you can see some of his outstanding work at www.jonathanstewartphotos.com/Featured-Albums/Nepal-Tibetans-of-Upper-Dolpo.

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in May 2016

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 May 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

Moorpark High School Snack Bar, 4500 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/26/16; No reopen date

Piru Community Center, 802 N. Orchard Street, Piru;

Not hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing; inoperable plumbing;

Date closed - 05/19/16; No reopen date

Arby's, 1140 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/19/16; Date reopened - 05/20/16

Tresierras (meat section only), 280 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;

Construction resulted in contamination of food product;

Date closed - 05/17/16; Date reopened - 05/17/16

Bindi Food Market (meat section and independently operated food area), 11025 Violetta Street, Saticoy;

Not hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing;

Date closed - 05/16/16; Date reopened - 05/16/16

Las Sirenas Bar & Grill, 2091 N. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard:

No hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing;

Date closed - 05/09/16; Date reopened - 05/17/16

Green Valley Market, 763 B Street, Fillmore;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/05/16; Date reopened - 05/06/16

Ray's Donuts, 3734 Saviers Road, Oxnard;

Sewage overflowing inside and outside of the facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/04/16; Date reopened - 05/05/16

Panaderia La Michoacana, 960 E. Main Street, Santa Paula;

Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;

Date closed - 05/02/16; Date reopened - 05/05/16

Taqueria El Tapatio #7, 2420 Saviers Rd., Oxnard;

Sewage backing up inside the facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/03/16; No reopen date

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit at Museum of Ventura County Celebrates Asian American History

Vietnam refugees (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of the Navy)

Asian and Pacific Americans make up more than 5 percent of the U.S. population—more than 17 million people—and those numbers are growing. Their ancestral roots represent more than 50 percent of the world, extending from East Asia to Southeast Asia, and from South Asia to the Pacific Islands and Polynesia.

In commemoration of this important history, “I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story” will open at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, on Saturday, June 18th as part of a 21-city national tour. “I Want the Wide American Earth” was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

In this first exhibition of its kind, the Smithsonian celebrates Asian Pacific American history across a multitude of diverse cultures and explores how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped and been shaped by the course of the nation’s history. “I Want the Wide American Earth” tells the rich and complex stories of the very first Asian immigrants, including their participation in key moments in American history: Asian immigrants panned in the Gold Rush, hammered ties in the Transcontinental Railroad, fought on both sides in the Civil War and helped build the nation’s agricultural system.

Through the decades, Asian immigrants struggled against legal exclusion, civil rights violations and unlawful detention, such as the 120,000 Japanese who were interred during World War II. Since the 1960s, vibrant new communities, pan-Asian, Pacific Islander and cross-cultural in make-up, have blossomed.

The Ventura County presentation will be enhanced by artifacts, photos and documentary materials drawn from its own collection and from local residents.  These items will tell the stories of and celebrate the rich heritage of the Asian-American populations in the Central Coast region.

The banner exhibition is complemented by an e-book, which is a 14-page illustrated adaption of the exhibition. Produced in collaboration with SI Universe Media, creators of the first-ever Asian Pacific American comics anthology, the e-book will tell the Asian Pacific American story in graphic narrative, featuring work by seven Asian Pacific American comic artists. The e-book is free to download and viewable on all tablet devices and e-readers.

The exhibit also features a free mobile tour app (available on the App Store under “Wide Earth”), which includes interviews with authors Maxine Hong Kingston and Monique Truong; U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta; Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center director Konrad Ng; activist Deepa Iyer; and U.S. retired major general Antonio Taguba.

Curated by Lawrence-Ming Bùi Davis, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Initiative coordinator, “I Want the Wide American Earth” is a moving, dramatic and evocative narrative of Asian Pacific American history and culture.

The Museum of Ventura county’s presentation of this national exhibition was made possible by the generous support of Susan Van Abel and Eric Oltmann, Tolman & Wiker, and the Downtown Ventura Organization.

Patron Mexican Bar & Grill Coming Soon to Newbury Park

Update 6/2/16: Patron Mexican Bar & Grill is now open next to Cronies at 1620 Newbury Road in Newbury Park. Their phone number is 805/498-3188.

Posted 3/10/16: Kimbra gave a heads up via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page that Patron Mexican Bar & Grill is "coming soon" to the previous home of Gino's Bistro in Newbury Park (Gino retired and the place closed on December 31st), next door to the ever popular Cronies. Address is 1620 Newbury Road. Stay tuned.

German Discount Grocer ALDI to Open Simi Valley Store in Early 2016

Update 5/29/16: ALDI indicates at www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/grand-openings/grand-openings/simi-valley-ca that the grand opening will be June 16 but an Open House event will take place from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, June 12 where you can check things out but not but not purchase items...yet. Grand opening events 6/16 to 6/19 include free samples, special drawings and free re-usable bags. Store hours are 9am to 9pm and location is 425-A E. Cochran Street, Simi Valley.

See Note 1

German grocery chain ALDI will be opening a store in early 2016 at the former Office Depot location at the Simi at the Plaza shopping center in Simi Valley.

ALDI operates nearly 1,400 U.S. stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. The chain sells over 1,300 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items under its own brands. It opened its first U.S. store in 1976.

In June, ALDI announced it will launch its first Southern California stores in March 2016, with a plan to open approximately 25 stores before July 2016. With regional headquarters and warehouse in Moreno Valley, ALDI indicates it will employ over 1,100 Southern Californians by the end of 2016.

In its press release, ALDI indicated it will offer starting wages of $13/hour for store associates, up to $21/hour for long-standing associates. Employees will average 33 to 40 hours per week and will be eligible for full benefits, including health insurance, dental coverage and 401(k) plan.

To apply for a job at ALDI, visit aldistorejobs.com.

More on the California grand opening of ALDI at www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/california-grand-opening.

More about ALDI:

• Based in Germany with almost 10,000 stores in 18 countries.
• Founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 after taking over their father's store that had operated since 1913.
• ALDI is an abbreviation for ALbrecht DIskont (i.e. Discount)
• ALDI operates under two divisions, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Aldi Sud operates the U.S. ALDI stores. Aldi Nord owns the Trader Joe's chain.
• Yes, Aldi Nord bought the Trader Joe's chain in 1979. The first Trader Joe's store opened in 1967 in Pasadena.
• ALDI is one of the world's largest privately-owned companies.

Note 1: "AldiWorldwideLogo" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

Deliteful Low Carb Restaurant and Bar is Now Open at The Oaks Mall

A photo posted by De-Lite-Ful LowCarb Restaurant (@delitefulmeals) on May 24, 2016 at 3:25pm PDT

Update 5/23/16: Deliteful Low Carb Restaurant and Bar opened on Monday, May 23rd at The Oaks Mall. They promote no added sugar, no chemical sweeteners, 100% wheat and gluten free (the only grain on the menu is quinoa), no artificial ingredients and no chemical additives.

This is NOT a vegetarian restaurant...their dinner menu includes herb crusted halibut, bacon, brie and mushroom burger, flame broiled NY strip, Peri Peri Rubbed Filet Mignon and much more. Also open for breakfast and lunch. delitefulmeals.com

Posted 9/2/15:

Deliteful Low Carb Restaurant has announced it will be opening at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks sometime in the early 2016 time frame. It will be located on the first floor, south side, near McClave Jewelers and on the opposite side of Macy's Men's and Home store.

Deliteful will be open for breakfast and lunch, serving tasty food that is served free from sugar, artificial sweeteners, colorants, chemical additives, artificial flavors and MSG. 

They plan to use meats without added nitrates, cook with Himalayan Rock salt, use organic produce where possible, cook with olive and coconut oils and make everything fresh from scratch. 

For updates, visit www.delitefulmeals.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/delitefulmeals.

Regal Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on Thursday, June 9th

The new Regal Cinemas at Janss Marketplace is offering a “soft opening” fundraiser event June 5, 6 & 7 that will benefit three local charities - Play Conejo., Variety - The Children's Charity and Make-a-Wish Tri Counties.

100% of proceeds raised on the $3 tickets, $3 popcorn and $3 soft drinks will be divided evenly among the three charities.

Visit www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings/Regal-Janss-Marketplace-9 for more information. Tickets will be available at the box office only, beginning the morning of Sunday, June 5.

The official grand opening is Thursday, June 9

FREE Small Popcorn & FREE Small Fountain Drink  with each paid admission June 9 - June 16 at Regal Janss Marketplace 9 Only.

Posted in March 2016:

As anticipated when the Janss Regency Theater closed its doors on December 31, 2015, Regal Cinemas will be "coming soon" to Janss Marketplace, as noted by Janss on the Janss Marketplace Facebook Page.

For movie theaters throughout Ventura County, visit THIS LINK.

Sub Contractor Sandwich Shop in Oak Park Has Closed Its Doors

We are sorry to report that the Sub Contractor Sandwich Shop at 640 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) in Oak Park has closed its doors after 25 years in business. Many CVG Facebook Page followers and local residents have voiced their sadness over this one.