Category: Food & Beverage

Sara, Samantha, Brooke, Ella, and Jaime visit Ex Voto Chocolate Shop to talk with owner Jennifer about all things chocolate. Trying different treats, like chocolates and gelato. Click the video below to see our reactions and the chocolate-making process.

Special thanks to Jennifer and the Ex Voto staff for all your help and delicious chocolate.

Ex Votos Chocolates Ventura Instagram

Ex Voto Chocolates & Confections

Contributors: Ex Voto Owner: Jennifer Smith Ex Voto Employees Featured: Sophia Soule & Kate Main Cinematographer: Sara Bowman Students Featured: Brooke Wiley, Ella Morgan, Jaime Adame, Samantha Sarti, & Sara Bowman. Editor: Brooke Wiley

With a new Starbucks location popping up on every corner, it can be easy to miss out on what local coffee shop gems Ventura County has to offer. Though I often spent money at chain coffee places while in high school, I noticed a shift once I got my first drink-making job, and I’ve only had barista jobs ever since. Through learning the craft behind making a drink, I learned to appreciate sitting down and truly savoring it. When I started frequenting local coffee shops, I simply never looked back because of the difference in quality, price, and even the overall experience. Although it may be convenient for many people to succumb to large chain coffee places, I would urge them to give some of these places a try, because they just might surprise you!

1. Tatiana’s Coffee and Tea

Tatiana’s is located at 2470 E Main Street and serves a variety of drinks and food with an Argentinian twist. They offer teas, coffee, smoothies, bagels, pastries, and, notably, empanadas! Upon entering, there is an immediate homey, cozy, “mom and pop” feel. There is endless art and photography displayed throughout the shop. Some of these pieces are local and available for sale, along with a selection of used books and jewelry. The eclectic decorations were beautiful and helps to differentiate them from other coffee shops, making the experience unique and memorable.

I ordered a dirty chai with soy milk, a spinach and feta empanada, and a guava pastelito. The chai was comforting and tasted complexly spicy. It was not too sweet and the spices lingered as I sipped it. Though the soy milk did not foam as well, that is to be expected, and tasted amazing nonetheless. The empanada was generously filled to the brim with feta and spinach, flaky, and paired delightfully with their spicy chimichurri sauce. I could not help but try their guava pastelito and it did not disappoint. The ratio of cream cheese and guava was perfect and was not too sweet, as the buttery puff pastry base and tangy cream cheese counteracted the sweetness of the jam.

I believe Tatiana’s offers a distinctive experience due to the Argentinian food offered as well as the staff. Though it was my first time there, they treat you like regulars by cracking jokes and making you feel welcome. They also offer punch cards which allows you to get up to $3.50 off your 11th order. Though it was moderately noisy in there, being next to a road, I could definitely see myself studying there when it is not busy or grabbing a quick bite in the morning with friends.

2. Beacon Coffee

Beacon is located at 5777 Olivas Park Dr with a smaller menu and a few rotating pastries available. It is minimalistic and calming in there, with instrumental music playing. They sell lots of coffee-related gear such as a Chemex, their own coffee beans, and even offer barista training or latte art classes to take. Furthermore, Beacon effectively bridges the gap between the grower and the consumer. There are photos of people they work with on the walls, which adds credibility to their craft because they emphasize working closely with their growers to ensure the best quality and taste possible. There is even a roaster in the back that is visible to customers through a large window! The atmosphere there was so relaxing, making it the perfect place to study, work, or read for fun.

I ordered a dirty matcha with oat milk as well as a blueberry muffin, and I was truly blown away. The oat milk was frothed to perfection and tasted just as light, airy, and creamy as whole milk would have. I did not get my drink sweetened but it was not bitter at all. Their matcha and espresso was a stunning combination that not every place can do correctly. Most of the time, I am met with a green-ish, brown drink where the flavors fight against each other. At Beacon, however, the flavors were holding hands in harmony. The dirty matcha almost tasted savory in the best way possible due to the vegetal, grassy flavor of the matcha paired with the nutty, smooth espresso. As for the blueberry muffin, it tasted homemade and was filled with so many blueberries inside. It was fluffy, moist, and not too sweet which made for a lovely snack that did not sit heavy afterward.

In my opinion, Beacon is the place to be for anyone who is a bit of a coffee connoisseur looking to level up their coffee game at home or looking for quality espresso-based drinks that do not require heaps of sugar to make them taste good. Personally, this is a place I would rather go to alone than with friends because it is small and quiet in there which makes it a perfect place to focus or get some alone time.

3. Daylight and Moon Cafe

Daylight and Moon Cafe is located at 2991 Loma Vista Rd C and offers coffee, tea, toast, pastries, and empanadas. A selection of their pastries are gluten-free and vegan. The interior is bright, clean, and modern with a few colorful accents on the wall; a nod to their orange logo. There is a plethora of indoor and outdoor seating available with lots of charging outlets. Apart from the usual, they have a few games available such as Uno, Connect 4, and Scrabble to play. Though their menu is small, they offer many syrups or flavor combinations to go off of and even use local honey in their drinks.

I ordered a seasonal cherry latte with oat milk as well as a smoked salmon toast. The smooth espresso was made perfectly sweet with the cherry. I’ve never had a cherry latte before, but it was genuinely such a delicious and unique combination not available everywhere else. The oat milk itself was so foamy and clung to the side of the cup even when I finished the drink. As for the toast, it was refreshing and filling, though I could have used more smoked salmon given the price point. However, I loved the capers and balsamic glaze which took it up a notch for me! I had to wait over 30 minutes for these two items while it was slightly busy, so beware if you are tight on time like I was or opt to go during the week instead of a Sunday.

Overall, Daylight and Moon Cafe is a great place to grab breakfast or a light lunch with some coffee. It could interchangeably be used as a place to study or play some games with friends depending on the circumstances. Though the location is a bit random with not much to do nearby, it is close to Ventura College, which could make it a fun place to go after class for a caffeine pick-me-up or, perhaps, a competitive game of Uno.

4. Palermo

Palermo is located at 321 E Main St with a huge selection of drinks such as locally roasted coffee, teas, specialty lattes and mochas, smoothies, variations of chai, etc. Apart from their many drinks, they also offer 18 flavors of gelato, locally baked pastries and desserts (gluten-free options available), gourmet truffles and chocolates. Near the back, there is a fairly big gift shop/retail section with a diverse array of items such as candles, greeting cards, kitchenware, journals, and Jellycats!

I’ve been to Palermo many times and my go-to order is a lavender mocha with soy milk. I will be honest and say this place can get extremely busy, so at times, the drinks can be a miss if you go at the wrong time. Most of the time, however, my drink is not too sweet and delectably floral with a rich chocolatey backbone that pairs well with the espresso used. I also had a lemon poppyseed scone that was quite dense, but then again, I may not just be used to eating gluten-free pastries. It was okay, but I would much rather opt for their gelato. I love the honey lavender one they offer!

I believe that Palermo’s location and vast menu helps to set them apart from the other coffee shops I listed because there is so much to do in downtown Ventura. I love stopping by here while thrifting or before grabbing dinner with friends. Even when it is busy, there is so much retail to shop through in the meantime which keeps me entertained and content while waiting. Though they do offer wi-fi, Palermo is a place that I enjoy going to when I am out and about with people as opposed to studying or working; it can get quite noisy when it is busy!

I had such a great time visiting these places and hope it inspired you to check out some local coffee shops whether you want to get some work done, enjoy quality time with friends, or spend some time alone, enjoying every sip and bite each shop has to offer!

As we begin slipping into spring, and later summer, sooner than later that first real heatwave will hit and the only thing to counter the muggy swelter will be something cold, lubricating, and easily accessible. Thankfully, Ventura County has seen an explosion in local bars and restaurants that have stepped up their mixology game and are slinging some serious cocktails that are sure to beat that mid-afternoon heat.

These places are pushing the envelope of mixed drinks and going further than a standard Old Fashioned or Cosmo by including locally sourced produce and spirits, to not just make a delicious drink, but one that shows what our beautiful county has to offer. I’ve taken the liberty to sacrifice some liver functionality in the search for the best places to visit on a weekend afternoon (or weekday, I won’t judge) that you can add to your Ventura vacation itinerary.

Bank of Italy – Cocktail Trust

Bank of Italy Cocktail Trust has been a Main Street institution for quality craft cocktails ever since it opened. Situated inside the historic 1920’s Beaux-arts style building on the corner of Main and Oak, the warm, hip atmosphere and intimate seating juxtaposes the stern Art Deco-esque facade, and the attentive bartenders are happy to whip up any of their extensive offerings. With many of the drinks taking inspiration from Italian classics, the BOI puts a modern twist on their drinks with unique ingredients and some local liquors. The drinks we settled on were the Gin Fix and Montenegro Daiquiri, both featuring Ventura Spirits liquors. The Gin Fix balanced VS’s Wilder Gin’s herbaceous vigor with pineapple and vanilla and gave off matured Piña Colada vibes. The Montenegro Daiquiri’s pairing of rum, pineapple, citrus and Ventura Spirit’s Angeleno Amaro’s orangey spice made for a very simple yet complex take on the 19th-century Cuban classic.

The Dutchess

The Dutchess has quickly become on of the flagship restaurants and bars in the Ojai valley, and has been popular with locals and tourists alike since its opening. With an inspired, modern take on drinks and Burmese cuisine, The Dutchess is a vibrant and cozy establishment that takes pride in working with local farms, breweries, and distilleries. Their cocktail menu rotates with the season, so other than a few staples don’t expect to order the same thing twice. After conversing with one of their bartenders and friend of mine, Eric, we volunteered as guinea pigs to try some drinks he had been working on. The first, a take on an Amaretto Sour sans egg white, used their house-made Amaretto with local botanicals and a persimmon simple syrup to balance the bite of the bourbon. The second drink, his spin on a Paper Plane, subbed the standard lemon juice for Pixie tangerine juice to give the modern classic its own Ojai twist. Both drinks were fresh, vibrant and packed a serious bourbon punch, qualities shared with all The Dutchess has to offer, cementing it as my #1 recommendation for a cozy drink in Ojai.

Jaguar Moon

One of the newest additions to Ventura’s collection of cocktail lounges, Jaguar Moon opened November of 2024 and brought a slew of Yucatánian flavors to the county. The bright, open space with vibrant colors and welcoming staff boasts a large collection of innovative drinks highlighting the many flavors and ingredients of the Yucatán, and their kitchen, Cocina Jaguar, offers Mexican dishes you can’t find anywhere else in Ventura.

For our visit, we started off with their smoky mezcal margarita and the tropical Oaxacan Cobbler, the latter truly being an adult fruit smoothie with a punch. To maintain sobriety we opted for some small plates, and decided on the Peruvian scallop crudo, their traditional guacamole with chicharrónes and salsa macha, and one of their cochinita pibil tacos. The food was incredible, with bold flavors and fresh, locally sourced ingredients. If you plan on a visit, I highly recommend the guacamole to share, and the cochinita tacos for yourself.

Bonus – Ventura Spirits Pixie Collins

Although not a cocktail bar, Ventura Spirits is our local distillery whose liquors and canned options are perfect for your home bar or fridge. And nothing screams local more than their take on classic Tom Collins. Using their Wilder Gin (that is made with local botanicals including purple sage, sagebrush and pixie peels) and Ojai Pixie-cello, the Pixie Collins is perfect for a weekday afternoon when there’s not enough time for a bar, but enough daylight to sit outside and wind down.