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We ventured over on a Wednesday lunch hour to find the usual hustle and bustle, got seated promptly, then proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait somemore. Our waitress finally took our order 15 minutes later, then we waited again. The service is usually slow here, but this was really, really slow. And I had the audacity, 45 minutes after being seated, to complain. I asked the waitress where our salads were, and she said, "Well, you'll just have to wait until it comes out of the kitchen!" That's verbatim, I'm not kidding. The owner was equally condescending, "We're just really busy today." We got our salads (and by this time chomping on a fish head would have been welcomed), then had to rush out the door. And we were dumb enough to leave a tip.

Next was my birthday lunch, the following Wednesday. Chris wanted to take me to the Inn. We were both cell mates there once, so we thought we could put that experience behind us and enjoy the place as guests. They've gone through a multi-million dollar 3-year remodel and the results are, I hate to admit, spectacular. We dined alfresco on the Oak Cafe terrace. Other than maybe 3 other tables, it was just us. According to the restaurant manager, media reports about the "Ojai Fire," have given the Inn a significant drop-off in business. That explained the empty parking lot. We each started with a cup of soup; hers was the Tortilla Soup, mine the Gazpacho - yum! Smoke was started to build up due to a change in the winds, but under the terrace's canopy, we were just fine. Then our entrees came: lettuce wraps and a walnut, pesto, goat cheese sandwich. And if that wasn't enough, the manager, who found out it was my birthday, sent over decadent Tira Misu served in a martini glass. We each took a couple of bites and then decided to walk off the extra pounds. Our horticulturalist friend, Michaelyn Hodges, whose remarkable work is evident everywhere you look on the property, took us on a quick tour of a new suite that looks over the valley - amazing.

That evening, my husband took me to dinner for my birthday. Fortunately, the winds changed direction again, opening up the skies to allow us to dine outside once more. Knowing I have a favorite table for optimal viewing of the Pink Moment, Bill reserved table 15 at Auberge. We arrived at 6:30 to an empty restaurant, well except for one other pair of diners - the only other diners in the entire restaurant. And they were sitting. At table 15. How. In the world. Could they have messed this up? They gave us table 19 instead. I did not make a fuss, did not complain. When the Pink Moment descended upon the valley, Chief Peak's nose (the only thing we could see), got a nice blush to it, so we clinked our glasses of Laeticia Pinot Noir and enjoyed it. The menu, significantly paired down from when they first opened, seemed to be less fancy, incorporating some of the "peasant fare" I was so fond of from when Paul Bocuse owned it, and thus the prices were a tad lower, too.

Last Friday night, we popped into Pangea. We sat at the bar as usual so that Joe could regale us with stories and I could ask him to concoct a new elixir for me. I am fickle and he knows it so we go through this charade nearly everytime:
Joe: "What'll it be?"
Bill: "Newcastle."
Me: "Oh, gee, I dunno, what do you got?" Both Bill and Joe look at one another knowingly and shake their heads.
Joe: "What do you feel like? Fruity, sweet, tart, bubbly?"
Me (this week): "Fruity, but not too sweet."
This time one of the regulars chimes in, "Make her that martini with the X-Rated liquor."
And before I know it a lovely chilled martini glass filled with a rosy-hued tonic is in front of me. It's got subtle citrus flavors with a light hint of passion fruit.
Chef Scott's got a special on this night: a Pork Chop with a Horseradish Apple Butter, which sounds weird but is absolutely brilliant.

And today we brunched at Feast Bistro. We've had breakfast, lunch and dinner there but never brunch. I will argue with anyone that this menu presents the best value in the valley for Sunday Brunch. Bill had the Breakfast Pizza and I had the Eggs Florentine. The bill was $30 plus tip for the two of us.

Tomorrow I'll get on the treadmill...tomorrow.

Did anyone go to the Taste of Ojai yesterday? Would love to hear about it.

For information about any of these restaurants, go to Ojai Restaurants. And check out previous Dishing Ojai posts here and here.