A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine

The Conejo Valley Rotary Club would like to wine and dine you at its Ventura County Gourmet Food & Wine Festival on Sunday at the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks.

The seventh annual event will offer festival-goers the chance to imbibe and ingest the products of about 120 wineries and food purveyors--for the sake of charitable causes.

“Monies from the event will help support programs for needy senior citizens, polio victims, scholarships and community youth activities,” said Larry Lord, Conejo Valley Rotary Club secretary. “There’s a full realm of charities that the club supports.”

The event, which will run from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., will be held on the entire bottom floor of the mall. All stores will be closed. “We’ll take up almost a quarter of a mile of space,” Lord said.

Restaurant chefs and other food service representatives will prepare a plethora of delectable items, while more than 60 wineries will pour tastings of their stock. “For the money, it’s a great deal,” he said. “People walk out stuffed.”

Also on hand will be entertainment for all to enjoy between the food and wine sampling tables.

“We’ll have roving entertainment as well as a live big band, a fashion show, and a few of the chefs will have created ice carvings that will be on display,” Lord said. “It’s become quite a social event.”

Local florists will also compete in a flower arranging competition, he said.

Each guest will receive an engraved commemorative wine glass upon entering.

The mall is at 222 W. Hillcrest Drive. Tickets--available at the door--are $30. Festival-goers are asked to enter from the southeast entrance to the mall. For information, call 371-1500.