Category: Local Business

Categories
Local Business

Serving Handcrafted Confections to Ventura Locals

L->R: Lexi Quolas (VCS), Sarah Fox (VCS), Jennifer Smith (co-owner), Sophia Smith-Grunder (co-owner), Kelyla Nelson (VCS)

A Family That Creates Together, Stays Together.

Ventura, California is home to many local small businesses, but there are none like Ex-Voto Chocolates and Confections. Offering handcrafted chocolates, organic based ice cream, toffee, house made nut butters, fresh caramel, espresso drinks and much more. This gem has captured the hearts of their patrons using gourmet chocolate that is fair trade and is of single origin. 

Owned and operated by the mother daughter duo, Jennifer Smith and Sophia Smith-Grunder, it took time for them to come up with a name that would fit their passion for confections; that is when they settled upon Ex-Voto. The term “ex-voto” is Latin for “milagro” and by definition, it means an offering given in gratitude for an answered prayer.

This small but mighty business started in 2015 with Jennifer selling her decadent chocolates at the local farmers market in Ojai, California. Two years later, they opened their storefront and flagship business in Midtown, Ventura. Initially, Jennifer encouraged her daughter to focus on a cooking and baking career of her own. It just so happens that Sophia makes a phenomenal caramel, amongst other things, better than Jennifer could of dreamed. Thus, Ex-Voto grew into a run and operated family business. The business has boomed since the duo settled in Ventura and have been making history ever since. 

VC Social got the chance to sit down with Jennifer and get to know the history behind the business and what ignited their future. First things first, a bit about Jennifer: she began cooking when she was just 5-years old and is completely self taught. Her passion led her to culinary school in San Francisco studying pastry and bread making. Although, she continued to educate herself, take specialty classes online and certifications courses in hopes to figure out what avenue truly felt right to her. Jennifer’s intuitive spirit led her to chocolate as she started to see the word popping up in more ways than one. It was enough to spark her interest to teach herself the craft.

Hand painted and crafted chocolate truffles.

Chocolate, Chocolate And More Chocolate!

Jennifer fell in love with how complex, scientific, challenging, and creative chocolate can be. In turn, she draws inspiration from culture, food and nature resulting in truly complex flavor profiles that otherwise wouldn’t be found elsewhere. Her creations take form of one item and converging it with another. This can be seen in Ex-Voto chocolates, like the Sweet Pecan & Chili Gianduja (in dark chocolate) or the Key Lime (paired with white chocolate ganache).

Jennifer has developed close relationships with her patrons; she pays close attention to what customers are asking for and most importantly when they want it. This has played an important role in their business model and identifying their target market. Ex-Voto began focusing on seasonal items to pay homage to the time of year and most importantly what the seasons represent. Almost all year around you can find your favorites like their Turtles (salted caramel with slow roasted almonds) or the house-made peanut butter buddhas in milk or vegan dark chocolate.

  • Salted Caramel & Roasted Almond Turtles
  • Seasonal Easter themed chocolates
  • Sophia airbrushes flower mold for truffles

It’s Springtime here in Ventura and the Ex-Voto team has been working hard on their seasonal selection; it comes in different shapes, colors and textures including: eggs, bunnies and flower molds. A few of their Spring seasonal items include the Baklava Caramel eggs (using honey cinnamon caramel and pistachios), Pomegranate Rose in dark chocolate, Orange Blossom in white/dark chocolate, and Bananas Foster in milk chocolate, just to name a few. 

Is your mouth watering yet?

Featured Ice Cream menu and additions.

The Unique Ice Cream Flavors

Both Jennifer and Sophia come up with recipes by combining different notes, textures and complementary flavors that are well balanced to make heavenly combinations.

Ice cream is a childhood favorite for Jennifer and she has created each one offered at Ex-Voto to perfection. We asked her how she comes up with the recipes for her batches and she shared that most is trial and error. Like her banana honeycomb recipe, Jennifer explained that she had to experiment to find the best way to bring out the banana flavor considering its rather starchy. Her first initial idea was to do banana and peanut butter but she realized that both flavors were too flat. She tasted, processed and talked with Sophia and other employees, bringing up potential matches until they came up with honeycomb. It gives the banana a complementary sweetness, crunch and bitterness. 

One of the flavors VC Social favored was her in-house made Queso Fresco y Miel ice cream. Jennifer explained that it took her over 15 tries to find the perfect balance between the Mexican based salty soft cheese and sweet notes of honey. The flavor has become one of their best sellers and permanently remains on their ice cream selection. The combination is almost cheesecake-like and pairs well with house-made marshmallow creme that is lightly toasted with a torch in front of you.

Honey Lavender ice cream with marshmallow creme and rainbow sprinkles in a scratch-made waffle cone.

By keeping up with customer demand their business has created a sufficient following. Most importantly, Ex-Voto takes pride in the relationships that they form with each and every customer that walks through their door. We spoke briefly to a customer, Arlene, who told us that Ex-Voto is one of her favorite places to frequent. She loves the quality of their products and whenever her grand-daughter is back in town from college, they make it a point to stop in and grab a scoop of ice cream. Their patrons genuinely feel like they are part of the family and their support in the business continues to other generations.

Supporting Our Community

It was an absolute pleasure chatting with Jennifer and getting to know the ins and outs of her and Sophia’s daily routine and life at Ex-Voto. As we continued to chat after the interview, Jennifer shared another reason why she works as hard as she does. Her son Seth, 21, a student and surfer, has an extremely rare form of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma, one that has very little research on. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s important to support our community and small local businesses, this is why.

Seth during his new test trial.
Seth’s fundraising surfboard sticker. Artwork by Christine May Brand.

Please visit Seth’s website for more information about his journey, treatment and the cancer research fundraiser his family has set up. If you would like to help contribute to their cause for a cure, you can donate directly or find Seth’s custom sticker at Ex-Voto’s storefront location or online here.

Thank you again Jennifer, Sophia and Ex-Voto team for giving VC Social the opportunity to get to know you and discover some new favorite sweet treats!

Lexi
Kelyla
Sarah
Categories
Local Business

Funky & Fun at Throwback Junction

Walking into Throwback Junction I was met by co-owner Colette Prokopow sitting behind the counter made of reclaimed wood and metal with a countertop embellished with beer caps encased in epoxy. Perfect for her and partner Randy Lewis’ vintage shop with that seemingly has something for everyone. “Our merchandise pulls from the 60s,70s,80s,90s and Y2K.” says Prokopow,

“I personally like to be able to readily see things and not dig through racks,” she said. Apparent from the organized neat garment racks whose clothes were so pristine they belied their age.

And, not all the products are vintage actually. Some are carefully crafted and “picked with intention” from garage sales and then there are new items, such as the very popular band tees.

They have games, cassettes, vinyls, stickers, patches, sunglasses, jewelry and shoes.

 There is a men’s section which isn’t seen in many vintage shops and children’s items such as a very cool toddler Grateful Dead sweatshirt. Another thing that sets the shop apart is their dressing rooms—a wonderful addition that takes the guesswork out of sizing.

“We want a fun and funky vibe,” says Prokopow, as sounds from Nirvana play throughout the store. “We’ve held some events in the store—live music and comedy so far.”

They will celebrate their first year of business on July first and it has gone better than expected.

She and business partner Lewis’ met through an acquaintance. Lewis had owned a different Throwback Junction in the Valley and closed shop due to the Covid crisis. Prokopow knew she wanted a vintage store—had been a thrifter since she was a teenager—and had just resigned from a 20 plus year career. It was an uncanny meeting for the both of them. Lewis is still working as a teacher but spends time in the shop as well as bringing his knowledge of the business. I asked Prokopow what advise she would give to Ventura College students who have a passion to start their own. “Do your research,” she quickly replies. She did hers online and followed other vintage shops that she liked to see what they were up to. “Also, know your product and pricing is key.”

 They both knew they wanted a Main Street downtown Ventura location and looked at several vacant stores before just the right one opened up. Main Street rents can be pricey, but they found a building that was owned by the church next door and landed a reasonable deal.

Prior to opening the shop, Prokopow had been doing pop up events like fairs and craft shows and had developed a following. On May 6, they have reserved a booth at the Oxnard Spring Vintage Craft Fair at the Oxnard Historic Farm Park. She posts on social media twice a week and uses every opportunity to make their presence known. “Oh yes, and we’re dog friendly,” she says with a smile.   Throwback Junction offers a 15 percent discount to VC students when they show their student ID.

They are open seven days a week 11-7 Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday 10-7.

Short video tour of the store
Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Rabalais’ Bistro

Rabalais’ is a New Orleans style rasurant in the heart of the historic downtown Santa Paula. It is a family owned resurant that has been opened since 2011. I go to Rabalais’ at a few times a month and every time, the food has been amazing. What I have always known Rabalais’ for their amazing beignets.They have so many amazing desserts and pastries. They also have amazing food, my favorite things to get there are their gumbo, their French toast, and their Louisiana Po’ Boys. Every time I go they have nice staff and a beautiful restaurant.

When sitting down at the restaurant, you can be sat either inside where you can seeing many unique things like pictures of Santa Paula’s history, theirs a couch area where you can go and lounge and maybe get some work done, but one thing that I find cool is that they have a piano by the entrance where anyone can go and play any song they know. When you are stilling outside, it a nice area where you can enjoy the nice air and see people walk by, maybe take a look at the local shops that are near there. It is also a great place to sit because it is located on Main Street, which is where Santa Paula host most of their fun events.

Categories
Culture & Student Life Food & Beverage Local Business

Acai Bowls: The Perfect Snack for Students

Açaí (ah-sigh-EE) bowls are a delicious and healthy snack or meal option for busy students on the go. These berries are considered “superfruit” due to their nutritional value. The fruit is rich in healthy fats, and fiber, and it contains more antioxidants than other common berries. Besides these incredible properties, studies have shown that the consumption of it boosts brain function and it’s a great source of energy. This is exactly what we need to maintain a busy student lifestyle.

These berries come from a species of palm tree grown in the Amazon – Brazil. The fruit looks like a dark purple grape and it’s consumed as a smoothie, topped with fruits, nut butter, and seeds. Acai bowls are known for their vibrant color, creamy texture, and how easy it is to prepare. It can be customized to suit your taste and nutritional needs, and gives you a variety of health benefits.

Here is my recommendation, my favorite bowl: Acai, honey almond granola, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, peanut butter, coconut shavings, chia seeds, and a drizzle of condensed milk. Trust me on this one. 

Now that you learned about this, next time you need a quick and healthy meal or snack, consider getting an acai bowl. There is a store right in front of Ventura College. And by doing so, you will also support a local business owned by a Brazilian family. Hope you enjoy your acai bowl!

bb Açaí and Juice Store
5100 Telegraph Rd D, Ventura, CA 93003
Open every day from 9am to 5:30pm
https://bbacai.com/

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

A Mexican Bakery: Panaderia Vanessa #5

A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER.

FRESHLY BAKED BREAD EVERY DAY!

THE FAMOUS HORCHATA CHURRO SHAKE, SUPER DELICIOUS!

I love horchata and churros so I had to get myself this drink. First sip I was in heaven, this horchata churro shake is 100/10. The churro is nice and warm with cajeta/caramel inside.

MICKEY SHAPED CONCHAS AND MINI CONCHAS SUPER CUTE!

Growing up I always had conches at my house so I had to get my hands on this. Are you a Disney lover? Well panaderia Vanessa has them here in our 805 area including mini conches and many more options. You can also try there conchita dippings (Lechera, Cajeta, Chocolate) dipping sauce.

Story Time:

Panaderia Vanessa #5 is a Mexican Bakery located in Oxnard California and has been baking since 1990. This was my very first visit and overall I had the best experience. My order was 100/10 I’ll definitely visit this spot more often. This place defiantly gave me satisfaction I felt welcome, can’t wait to try everything else.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Address:

1221 Saviers Rd, Oxnard Ca 93033

Telephone:

(805)486-5922

Monday-Sunday:

4AM-9PM

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Tony’s Pizzaria Serving Good Food & Good Vibes

Have you ever been at the beach and craved a bite of pizza? Well lucky for you, a couple steps over is Tony’s Pizzaria. It’s known as a local family owned pizza shop, they have been around for 64 years passing their recipes from generation to generation.

Now let’s cut to the cheese! Straight from the oven their crispy, golden and savory pizza comes in many options to their customers, for the meat lovers they have a sausage and pepperoni pizza, to our Hawaiian lovers they have Hawaiian, and even for their vegetarian customers they offer a slice of veggie pizza. If you crave something a little more adventurous ask the chef for the daily special slice.

However, if you still desire something sweet after your delicious slice of pizza they offer desserts such as, but not limited to Hawaiian shaved ice, chocolate brownie, pahoehoe cookie, and sundaes. They offer combos like the C Street, Endless Summer, and Hang Ten (My favorite is the Hang Ten combo that I split with my sister which includes two slices of any pizza, a salad and a 24oz drink). Their salads are mind-blowing with their homemade dressing, if you love salad you can order in a family sized.

The ambience is very welcoming, you can eat a slice of pizza outside in their seating area with the sun hitting you and the sea breeze blowing you away just like their pizza does. If you would like a slice in the evening the atmosphere is still very warm with the string lights lit and the heater next to you. To end your visit you can play a little game of bean bag toss.

Tony’s Pizzaria is the best place to grab a slice and hit the waves or just to enjoy a bite. If you don’t want to eat there, you can also take it to go and minutes away is the cross an iconic sight seeing spot you can enjoy a beautiful sunset with your meal. If you want to show your support they also sell apparel such as hats and shirts.

“Every pizza is a master pizza” just like Tony says.

Check them out below:

Visit Tony’s Pizzaria Located: 186 E Thompson Blvd, Ventura,CA 93001.

Hours: Monday-Wednesday (11am-9pm) & Thursday- Sunday (11am-10pm)

Tony’s Pizzaria Website: http://www.tonyspizzaria.net/menu/

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Simones Coffee Shop

By Kelyla Nelson

Throughout the week, Simones coffee shop was a place that crossed my mind multiple times, therefore I had to make multiple visits. I have been there in the past but had never sat down nor have I ever tried anything but the one specific drink I always get, a decaf mocha latte. This past week has been rainy and cold, so it seemed like a good time to slow down, sit down, and really get a feel for the atmosphere. I tried two different drinks this week, the coconut blended and the honey lavender latte. Both drinks had completely different tastes to them and I really enjoyed both because they were both full of flavor. If I had to choose my favorite out of the two, I would go with the coconut blended. I preferred the flavoring more because it was lighter than the honey lavender. They offer a good variety of pastries as well as other breakfast items. The avocado toast is to die for! The kind of bread they use along with the seasonings really made it great, 10/10 would be the first item I recommend as far as food. Seating was relatively good, they have small tables with two chairs at each one. Good for one on one coffee dates, not so great for bigger groups. The big glass windows they have made it easy to watch the rain fall while sitting and enjoying the wonderful food and coffee while spending time with my daughter. Customer service was very good, you can tell they want to keep customers comfortable and happy. Anyone who is looking for a new coffee shop to check out, this is the spot.

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Sushi Fresh

“I’ve worked at many sushi restaurants in Ventura, and have the freshest sushi. That’s why I’ve worked here for 8 years.”

Fresh is the name of the game when it comes to seafood, and Sushi Fresh is a local favorite for just that! Featured beer and kombucha, sushi, bowls, ramen, and so many rolls–rolls for vegans, rolls for those who like their fish cooked, and my kind of rolls… raw and fresh. A few years ago (pre-Covid), I remember looking at the sushi chef with a genuine reactive to the food. He said, “I know, it’s incredible.” I commented on the freshness of the food, and he added, “I’ve worked at many sushi restaurants in Ventura, and we have some of the freshest sushi. That’s why I’ve worked here for 8 years.” I taste the appreciation for the fish in the food. 

The environment is very family friendly with private booths lined around the restaurant. They always have two TVs with sports or movies playing. I have watched numerous Lakers games with the chef there, while enjoying a beer and my favorite roll—Cinco de Mayo roll. Its citrus and spicy, and I have yet to taste another roll like it! Trust me, I have tried A LOT of sushi rolls. 

My partner and I go at least twice a month, and sit at the bar to talk to the sushi chefs. We like to try new things, and ask them if they want to share something they make that isn’t on the menu. This has allowed us to try fish and combinations we would never try otherwise. Tonight, we tried the albacore carpaccio, and strawberry lemonade boochcraft—SO GOOD and refreshing. 

They have been around since I went to high school at Buena, some 14 years ago. My entire family prefers this sushi spot compared to others, and I have to agree based off the customer service, the quality of the sushi, the friendly and prompt waiters, and new specials. If you are in the Buena High School vicinity, stop by any day, and try their Yellowtail Belly sushi. It has so much flavor! The first time I tried it a literally got lost in the bite. Enjoy, and thank me later 😉

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Cafe Fiore: An Authentic Italian Restaurant


Every time I have been to Cafe Fiore, it has been nothing short of a spectacular experience. Whether it is because of the classy romantic environment or the authentic Italian food that they serve, the service is always marvelous. Cafe Fiore is in Ventura on California St, and it is run by two amazing women, Anna and Maria Fiore. As you walk in you will see the beautiful bar that they have along with their collection of wine bottles that are in sight as you are seated, when you are seated they serve you complimentary bread and tapenade. 

Their menu is filled with a multitude of options to choose from, like Insalata, Zuppe, Antipasto, Secondi, pizza and pasta. For those of us who have been neglecting our Duolingo, they offer salads, soup, appetizers, and secondi, which is a dish composed out of different types of protein like chicken, Italian sausage, steak, seafood, and lamb.

Some of their signature dishes are the Bruschetta, Antipasto Fiore – a set up of different cheese along with italian salami, Salmone Organico con Insalata di Farro, Gnocchi, Fettuccine Al Ragù, Agnolotti Di Pollo E Spinaci, Pollo Parmigiana, and Cioppino Mamma Fiore, which is an assortment of seafood in a white tomato broth. 

Their tasteful dishes make me enjoy stuff that I personally usually don’t like. For example I hate tomatoes, but on the Bruschetta, the tomatoes added an incredible flavor to the rest of the ingredients it was working along with and they combined beautifully. For my main dish I ordered the Ravioli Di Ricotta, and the flavor and freshness that the tomato basil sauce exerted was indescribable. After I stopped eating I could still taste the pristine tomatoes, the dish easily became one of my new favorites from Fiore. 

My honest opinion on Cafe Fiore is that I am always greeted with great service, delectable Italian food that is authentic to its roots, and an indescribable experience each time I enter the restaurant. The environment is always calm and not chaotic which adds to the classy atmosphere. They also have a great selection of music playing in the background as you eat your food, the food that makes you feel like Remy from  Ratatouille when he takes a lot of different ingredients and his head lights up with color and music. If you’re in town or looking for a great place to eat, check out Cafe Fiore, you won’t be disappointed. 

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business

Best Italian Restaurant in Ventura

If you live in Ventura and have ever craved authentic Italian food, you know the struggle to find a good place. Even in the entire county, it’s hard to come by a restaurant that’s both authentic and affordable. Let’s say you find a great authentic place, most likely a plate of pasta will cost you nearly $30. And if you go someplace affordable, you can tell they just microwaved the food in the back five minutes ago. Neither is the case if you go to Brio Cafe in Ventura. 

Brio Cafe is a cute and casual Italian restaurant with some of the best authentic dishes in town. Everything here is homemade: from the pizzas to the pasta, the bread, and even the desserts. Located at 2404 E Main St. in Ventura, it’s not far out of the way from most places in the city, and wait time for food is fairly short. Inside, the restaurant features a small seating area, with a homey ambiance and friendly staff. You can place an order at the front register, over the phone, or even online through their website.

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite dish at Brio, but some fan favorites for my family are spaghetti bolognese, potato pizza, and spinach lasagna. You can get a decent sized plate of any pasta here for around $12, and the homemade pizzas are just about $15. The rectangle-shaped pizza comes covered with fresh toppings, delicious sauce, and has a perfectly crispy breading. When you finish your meal, don’t forget to add some dessert and pick one of their homemade cheesecakes to dig into!

Overall, Brio Cafe offers inexpensive, tasty, and genuine Italian food that you just can’t find elsewhere. I highly recommend stopping by and trying one of their pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads, or (my personal favorite) their fresh squeezed lemonade.