Tag Archives: Italian

Kitchen Nightmares – Capri in Eagle Rock

Gordon visit’s a double nightmare at Capri in Eagle Rock, Ca. Why is it a double nightmare? The owners are twins. Unfortunately for us and Gordon they are identical twins. You know already we are going to be forced to endure twin jokes, trading names, acting like each other, etc, etc.  The best twin humor however will be dealt of course by Gordon.  We will have twin insults, twins yelling and most important in any kitchen nightmare, twins crying.  So on to Capri in Eagle Rock.

Right away Jeff and Jim started us off with the lame twin humor. “You’re Jim.”  “No, I’m Jim.”  Then we, of course, need to speak in chorus.  I already want to beat them with a soggy loaf of bread.  So these guys had been going to Capri and loved it so much they decided to buy it.  Anyone who watches Gordon take on these projects knows these are the worst kind of owners.  They are clueless, lazy, and lazy.  Yeah I know I said it twice.  After all, they are twins and are twice the amount of lazy.  Luckily their staff respects them and showers them with praise.  Just kidding.  They basically say that they are lazy, immature, sloppy, loud, and can’t cook. Other than that they are fantastic.  Continue reading

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Filed under Everywhere, On TV

Galletto – The Last Supper

by Brian

Today was a momentous day for me.  For the first time, a woman actually took me to lunch.  Sure, it was my boss.  And sure, she was only doing it because she was so happy to be getting rid of me.  But still, I must say, it felt nice.

We decided on a little place in Westlake that I’d always wanted to try, but had never seemed to make room for.  It’s called Galletto and its specialty is Brazilian food.  Which is a lot of meat.  Think BBQ meets Italian with some Latin flavor thrown in.

Galleto – Next to Natural Café at the intersection of Townsgate and Westlake Blvd, in Westlake Village

galletto

We arrived around 11:30am for an early lunch.  They were just opening and there were only a couple other tables that were occupied.  It was a nice day so we decided to sit out on the patio.  The first thing I noticed was that the chairs were very awkward.  Instead of allowing you to sit back, the high backed chairs forced you forward toward the table.  This was fine once the food arrived, but it deprived me of one of my favorite things while dining out: sitting back and enjoying a little conversation.

While looking over the menu, I asked my boss what she had eaten here previously.  She let me know that the Brazilian chicken was excellent and that ended up being the dish she ordered.  I kept flipping through the menu and was stopped by the sandwich section.  They have a sandwich called the Braziribs sandwich, which they claim was voted one of the Top 5 sandwiches in L.A. by Los Angeles Magazine.  Talk about a “you had me at hello” moment.  From then on it was all I could think about. Continue reading

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Filed under Ventura County, Westlake Village

Cafe Fiore Has It All

by Brian

I usually leave Ventura reviews for Mikey, since he’s local and all.  But last Friday night I got an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.  My friend Tiffany happens to be friends with the executive chef at Cafe Fiore and since I was craving a little decadence, I decided to give Fiore the EatMeCalifornia treatment.

Cafe Fiore – On California St. near Main, in Downtown Ventura

What ended up happening was that EatMeCalifornia got the Fiore treatment.  We arrived right on time for our 8 o’clock reservation and were whisked away to a nice little booth in the back of the restaurant.  The place was packed with 20-30 somethings drinking cocktails and having a great time.  I instantly loved the vibe of this place and it didn’t hurt that it was gorgeous too.  The look is rustic, with high ceilings, dark wood and wine racks everywhere.  It reminded me a lot of what the guys over at Cafe Firenze were trying to accomplish, but this smaller, more intimate space carries it off even better than Fabio and his crew have managed. Continue reading

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Filed under Ventura, Ventura County

Fiamme Puts A Fresh Spin On Italian

by Brian

What do you get when you mix classic Italian cuisine with a little bit of home-grown Cajun?  The answer is Fiamme.  This new addition to the Thousand Oaks dining scene went in where the old Alessio went out.  In essence the menu has remained Italian, but the prices are better and the owners, Jerry and Liz, have added a little of bit of Cajun fun and flavor to the dining experience.

Fiamme Restaurant and Bar – On Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks

There’s something to be said for eating in a beautiful setting.  This restaurant is richly appointed and comfortable.  The red hues and wrought iron, soft chairs and softer light make it a place befitting a fine Italian restaurant.  As far as looks go, this place can compete with anywhere I’ve been in Ventura County, or anywhere else for that matter. Continue reading

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Filed under Thousand Oaks, Ventura County

Deadliest Catch and the Deep Blue Sea

by Brian

Tonight, Mikey and I are premiering a new weekly column for the site.  With Hell’s Kitchen winding down (thank god) we are proactively filling the void with a show that’s actually worth watching: Deadliest Catch.  This weekly column will probably go up on Wednesdays, but because I was retarded and forgot to tivo the 1st episode, I had to wait until tonight to watch the rerun.  Each week, it is my hope that we can not only give a little commentary on the show, but also a review on the culinary bounty that is the ocean.  First the show, then the review… enjoy!

deadliestcatch

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Filed under On TV, Thousand Oaks, Ventura County

Moorpark’s very own Top Chef

by Brian

This post was supposed to go up last night, but I had to spend the last few hours of the day consoling my friend.  The reason she was so upset was that Moorpark’s own, Fabio Viviani, was eliminated from the season finale of Top Chef. Continue reading

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Filed under Moorpark, Ventura County