Food Fest Satisfies 25,000 Appetites Despite Showers

Despite the ominous clouds and occasional drizzles Sunday afternoon, the mood was upbeat and festive during the final day of the annual Taste of Ventura County.

As many as 25,000 people attended the three-day event at the Channel Islands Harbor, according to organizers.

Although the weather wasn’t hot, the chili was, said one of the festival’s food vendors.

“Step right up, folks!” hollered Richard Hodge, an engineer for the Oxnard Fire Department, who was selling steaming bowls of chili at his department’s booth near the entertainment stage.

To help sales, Hodge used his best carnival barker impersonation.

“She walks! She talks! She crawls on her belly like a reptile--Little Egypt! Step right up!” yelled Hodge, who said he had cooked 65 gallons of chili for the event.

“It’s the best chili I’ve ever had,” concluded Julie Perez, 34, of Oxnard.

Event organizer Ray Herbert said this year’s festival was among the most successful in its six-year history, despite rain both days.

“It’s El Nino giving it one last shot,” said Stuart Seto, a specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, predicting a 30% chance of rain throughout the county both today and Tuesday.

The Taste of Ventura County crowd was not deterred.

“You can just see how much fun everyone’s having,” Herbert said, taking a break from judging a contest to see who could hold up a pitcher of water the longest.

“It’s been going on like this all weekend.”

Saturday night was marred by a fight on the dance floor, but Oxnard police officers broke it up before anyone was hurt, Herbert said.

“It was a little scuffle,” he said. “It happened five minutes before we closed.”

In addition to the 25 local restaurants and organizations offering samples of a wide variety of food, beer, wine, champagne and spiced rum, there was a cigar booth.

Cigar Club owner Kris Calef said he did excellent business over the weekend.

“These guys get that Captain Morgan rum flowing through their systems and they’re bound to try a cigar,” Calef said, adding that he sold out of his $12 stogies.

Beatrice Flores of Oxnard said she brought her sister Velia Guerrero from Santa Paula to the event to listen to the live bands, which ranged in style from big band to salsa.

Flores said she was also tempted by the plump beef tamales fresh off the stove.

“Let’s see if it tastes as good as my homemade tamales,” Flores, 69, said before taking her first bite.

“Nope, not as good as mine,” she decided.