Better Than Menudo

Good news on the pozole front.

Restaurateurs Iris and George Van Hemert have begun serving the pork stew dish Saturdays at their Ventura Tortilla Factory.

George Van Hemert described the hominy fare as being in the same class as menudo, “but much better tasting.” An order of pozole is $4.25.

Other items added recently to the Tortilla Factory menu include large-size tamales, also available on Saturdays. The chicken tamale is $1.95 and the sweet tamale (with raisins and pineapple) is $1.85. A Sonora burrito (prepared with tomatoes and half a lemon squeezed into the mix) goes for $3.69, available daily.

The restaurant’s new hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The establishment is at 920 N. Ventura Ave.

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Even Jonathan Youngman, owner of Ventura’s Anacapa Bread Co., would agree that man and woman cannot live by bread alone.

Pastries are important too.

The baker, whose European-style establishment has been open for about a year, will introduce a line of pastries. Look for homemade cheesecakes, Danish and croissants to be available daily by the end of October.

“I definitely want to have it well in place by the holidays--exploit that [opportunity] when I come to it,” Youngman said. “Having pastries has been an ongoing plan in the background. I guessed it was something we should have, but I never had time.”

In recent months, Youngman also has been developing his wholesale business. His bread accounts include Cafe Zack, Ojai Valley Inn, Tower Club, 71 Palm and the new Jonathan’s Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Ventura.

The Anacapa Bread Co. is at 2611 E. Thompson Blvd.

Speaking of Jonathan’s, the month-old restaurant, located in the historic Peirano building in downtown Ventura, opened for lunch earlier this week. (Good news for those frustrated by the original dinner-only hours).

The Mediterranean-style restaurant, owned by longtime local restaurateur Jonathan Enabnit, is serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. A Sunday brunch, to be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is scheduled to begin Oct. 11. Dinner continues Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is at 204 E. Main St.

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Santa Barbara Winery, Barringer Winery and J. Eberly Wines will be featured in a wine and food festival Saturday at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara. The culinary indulgence, sponsored by Vons stores in Carpinteria, Montecito and Santa Barbara, will benefit Easter Seals Tri-Counties.

The program, which includes a silent auction and some mingling politicians, will run from 1 to 5 p.m. The theater is at 1317 State St. Tickets, at $15, are available at Vons in the three cities. Call 647-1141 for more information.

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The approaching holiday season can only mean one thing--fun, festive food contests. (Well, it can mean some other things to, but not at this moment.)

Getting the season started is the ninth annual Quaker Oats recipe contest, with a deadline of midnight, Oct. 31. Entries may be made in the categories of cookies, cookies by kids (under age 16 with an adult), and low-fat recipes (for baked goods, main or side dishes).

Grand prize is $10,000. There will be three $1,000 first-place awards and nine $250 runner-up winners.

For contest rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to RULES, P.O. Box 1370, Barrington, IL 60011, or sign on to the Quaker Oats Web site at www.quakeroatmeal.com.