New Super Tommy’s to Go Beyond Burgers

Restaurateur Nick Sklavenitis has been serving hamburgers at his Big Tomy’s restaurant on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles for about 15 years. He’s quick to pronounce those burgers famous in Southern California.

He’s just as quick to alert folks in Ventura County that those burgers will be heading this way within a couple of weeks, with the planned opening of his Super Tommy’s restaurant in the Hampshire Village shopping center in Thousand Oaks.

But hungry locals, please take note. Sklavenitis said there will be much more to Super Tommy’s than just burgers.

“A lot of people know our name, and our famous hamburgers, but this will not be just a hamburger place,” said the Westlake Village resident. “We will have omelets, salads, chicken, fish, lamb, beef.”

Over the past 20 years, Sklavenitis owned additional Tomy’s restaurants in Santa Monica, Culver City, Westwood and West Hollywood before he sold them off. He will operate Super Tommy’s with his wife, Marika Sklavenitis, and his brother-in-law Spuros Stavrobouros.

“It will be a cafe and grill, not just a fast-food hamburger place,” Nick Sklavenitis said. “This is ‘Super’ because we have expanded our menu and service.”

Super Tommy’s, at 3085 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., will seat about 110 diners, inside and in an outdoor patio area. Though hours have yet to be finalized, the restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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More than 40 restaurants and about 70 wineries are expected to bring their creations to A Taste of Camarillo, the ninth annual food and wine festival at the Adolfo Camarillo House. The festival is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo.

Among the dining establishments on the list are the California Grill, Little Thai Restaurant, Verona Tratteria and Petrucci’s Ristorante Italiano of Camarillo; Capistrano’s and Yasmeen’s of Oxnard; the Chart House and Rosarito Beach Cafe of Ventura; and Steamers Restaurant of Santa Barbara.

Leeward Winery of Ventura and the Daume Winery of Camarillo will be among the wineries represented.

In addition to the tastings, there will be live and silent wine auctions and musical entertainment. The event will run 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the gate. Call 482-8113. The Adolfo Camarillo House is at 3771 Mission Oaks Blvd.

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If you think your salsa recipe is worthy of honor, it’s time to grab your onions and your peppers and put your money where you’re burning mouth is.

Advance entries are being accepted for the amateur salsa contest, part of the third annual Salsa Festival, to be held Aug. 3 and 4 in Oxnard’s Plaza Park. Would-be contestants are asked to submit their recipes and fill out an entry form, at the Holiday House, 750 South B St. in Oxnard.

“Any type of salsa is fine,” said Rosemary Pace, organizer of the festival. “It just has to be something unique, something the entrants have created themselves, whatever they are famous for.” Entrants will need to prepare a half-pint of salsa for the judges and an additional half-gallon for the public. The tasting will take place Aug. 3. For more information, call 483-4542.