Simi Valley’s Barbara Beautz said she doesn’t...

Simi Valley’s Barbara Beautz said she doesn’t prepare any more strawberry dishes than the average person. Nonetheless, she beat out most of the competition to finish third in two categories, the best among Ventura County entrants in the California Strawberry Festival Berry-Off contest.

Almost 400 recipes from 28 states were entered into the contest’s six categories. Beautz’ “Strawberry Dip” earned honors in the hors d’oeuvres classification, and her “Strawberries in Coconut” was a top finisher in the dessert group.

“The winners had 10 or 12 ingredients. My recipes consisted of maybe only two ingredients,” Beautz said modestly. “Any 2-year-old could prepare mine.”

If you’ve got a 2-year-old, here’s his or her chance:

To make the strawberry dip, soften an eight-ounce package of cream cheese and whip it together with the contents of a seven-ounce jar of marshmallow cream. Use the juice of two large strawberries to turn the cream pink. Serve as a dip for strawberries or as a filling for stuffed strawberries.

As for the dessert: Combine 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut with half a cup of milk. Add half a cup sugar. Let stand for one hour. Then combine with one quart sliced strawberries and one cup of whipping cream that’s been whipped. Serve in parfait glasses or pudding dishes.

Now that you’re in the mood, the Strawberry Festival will be held May 20 to 21 at College Park in Oxnard.

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Good news for fans of Ventura’s City Bakery. The coffeehouse/restaurant is now open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For those of you who haven’t yet stopped by the place, it’s at 2358-C E. Main St.

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Capistrano’s Restaurant at the Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard walked away with three of the four awards handed out at A Taste of Ventura County food and wine festival last weekend at Channel Islands Harbor.

The establishment’s bruschetta Capistrano won the award for best dish as chosen by a panel of judges. Capistrano’s also won the judge’s choice for best decor, for the design of its food booth, and best of show, for being the all-around top restaurant.

Ventura’s Chart House won the People’s Choice award for its sizzling mushrooms.