Wine on the Range

Lisa Hicks, owner of the Wine Lovers wine bar and shop in Ventura, is the first to admit that a three-figure price tag on a winemakers dinner might turn a few heads--if not a few stomachs.

But she’s quick to argue that her Aug. 28 “Jungle Fever” event, spotlighting the Napa Valley’s Joseph Phelps Winery, is a bargain at $120 per person.

“People are barking, but for what they’re getting . . .” she said. “Joseph Phelps’ least expensive bottle of wine is $20 and we’re doing their reserve stuff as well, which is $50 a bottle. We’re offering a glass with each course of this really premiere wine.”

The dinner, a Caribbean menu to be prepared by Pierpont Inn executive chef Louis Ludwig, will be held at Hicks’ Ojai ranch, a 5-acre property that is home to a couple of thousand palm trees of various varieties.

“We do weddings here--all sorts of events. We rent out our yard year-round,” said Hicks, who shares the home with business partner-boyfriend Jerry Kenton. “We use it for events through our catering company. We’re booked eight months ahead of time for weddings.”

Hicks was having difficulty filling out the guest list at first, but reservations have picked up of late. She said she hopes the “Jungle Fever” program will be the first of a series of special events at her home. “We want it to be every two months,” she said.

For reservations, call (805) 652-1810.

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Florence and Serge Bonet, owners of Cafe Provencal French eatery in Thousand Oaks, will host a five-course wine-tasting dinner Aug. 31.

The meal will open with salad topped with beets, green beans, goat cheese and caramelized walnuts; followed by a sesame-encrusted ahi tuna prepared with a Mandarin sauce.

Next will be a passion fruit sorbet, followed by the main course--breast of pheasant served with wild rice and spinach souffle. Dessert will be a three-chocolate fondant with raspberry coulis.

Cost is $65 per person. For reservations, call (805) 496-7121.

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If wine dinners aren’t your cup of tea, how about pie?

In the contest of the week, the Keebler folks are sponsoring a pie recipe contest. Entries will be judged on taste, ease of preparation and creativity. Preparation for all recipes must not exceed 15 minutes (excluding baking and chilling).

The winner will receive $1,000, with other cash prizes of $500 and $250.

Deadline for entry is Oct. 31. For an entry form or more information, write to the contest officials at “Desserts Made as Easy as Pie” Recipe Contest, 303 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60601.

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Gael Lecolley, owner and chef of Gael’s Cafe-Restaurant in Ojai, will continue his series of “Spanish Saturday Night” dinners this Saturday.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., with an early flamenco show at 7 and the late show at 8:30.

Lecolley’s menu will open with a Spanish-style salad with roasted peppers and olives, followed by an entree choice of either paella or marinated chicken with Spanish rice and vegetables. Fruit tart will be served for dessert.

“I’m going to do flamenco once a month,” Lecolley said. “There are a lot of people who don’t know flamenco. It is a very powerful dance and music. To me it’s important to introduce this kind of thing.”

Cost is $30. Gael’s is at 423 E. Ojai Ave. For reservations, call (805) 646-8235.