Short Rations : Conejo Food and Art Fair Attracts 1,500 People, but Only 5 Restaurants

Sandra Stevens’ color-splashed canvases weren’t selling like Picasso’s, but they were attracting plenty of attention at the Taste of Conejo & Fine Art Promenade on Sunday.

That’s the way the Oak Park artist likes it.

“I don’t care if they sell,” said Stevens, in the shade of her tent on the Civic Arts Plaza Park lawn in Thousand Oaks. “What I like is listening to people respond to my work. I’m proud to be a local artist.”

Stevens was just one of 35 local artists and five restaurants showing off their goods to about 1,500 people browsing the art and food fair sponsored by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Although the turnout by local restaurateurs and residents was disappointing to organizers, one of them, Nancy Lynch, said it takes time for what is planned to be an annual event to pick up speed.

“This is only the first year, and, yes, it was a modest start,” Lynch said. “In four or five years this lawn will be completely filled.”

Lynch said the fair had a difficult time attracting restaurants to the site.

“I called tons of restaurants, but they all had excuses, and at the last minute three dropped out,” she said. “Maybe we should have called it Fine Art in the Park and a Little Touch of Food.”

The five restaurants that had booths at the fair got plenty of business--more than $10,000 worth, Lynch said.

“The fair’s great,” said Terri Cruickshank, whose catering business, Pasta Concerto, sold mounds of gourmet pasta. “It’s given us a chance to show off our fancy raviolis. The response has been terrific. Whether we break even or not, it’s been well worth it.”

The food was going quickly at Cafe Bellissimo’s tent as well. They served up more than 1,000 ricotta-stuffed shells.

“The turnout is better than we expected,” said Daniel Gibson, who dished out the large testaceous noodle, as well as several other foods. “We’ve already run out of several dishes.”

But the skimpy number of food booths left Mike Ross of Simi Valley wanting.

“They still have a long way to go to make this a tasting fair,” said Ross, a confessed nibbler. “There are so many more places to eat in Thousand Oaks that aren’t represented here.”

Jill Obreiter of Moorpark agreed.

“The participation is really light,” she said, munching on a blue snow cone. “The other food fairs in the area are packed wall to wall.”

The art is nice, but it’s the food that brings them in, said Thousand Oaks resident Wayne Reisig, relaxing out of the sun beneath a big oak tree. “People always like food,” Reisig said.

Laura Wray was just thankful for something to do with her two daughters.

“There’s usually not much going on here in Thousand Oaks,” Wray said. “It’s so nice when they put on activities like this that bring people in the community together. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.”

Dick Kirkland was also a fan of the festival.

“It’s a nice beginning,” Kirkland said. “It’s a good way to promote local restaurants and get to know local artists in a wonderful setting.

“It could definitely blossom into something bigger. It has a lot of promise.”