Ventura County Food and Wine Pairing Events Showcase “Bounty of the County”

Is it tell me something goof? Or feed me something good?

It’s summer, and time once again for the  Ventura County Fair “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” and the annual  “Bounty of the County” where, on Tuesday August 11 from 5-7pm regional restaurants and wineries offer bites and tastes to the first 200 fortunate fairgoers. They get to taste and then vote on best food, best wine, and best pairing. There are also several other wine and food events coming up!

Events like this are a great way to develop your palate and figure out what exactly pairs with what!

Be sure to come early to The Agriculture & Natural Resources Building in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds (near the grandstands) to get in line for this popular event!

Wineries include Labyrinth which will be pouring three of their wines — and many more all for the admission price of $11.

Tuesday August 11 is also Carnival Wristband Day, Neil Sedaka is performing at 1pm, and Chaka Khan at 7:30pm as well as everything else you can imagine at a “Country Fair with Ocean Air.”

Speaking of Labyrinth, the following day Weds. Aug. 12 from 6:30-8:30pm a Wine Dinner & Cooking Demonstration features their wines in the Wellness Kitchen at the California Health & Longtivity Institute located at the Four Seasons – Westlake Village, CA.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling (818) 575-1114 to learn how to cook –and to experience!– this menu:

1st Course Yellow squash & yellow bell pepper soup paired with 2012 Labyrinth Chardonnay

2nd Course One skillet pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil and grilled shrimp paired with 2012 Labyrinth Pinot Noir

3rd Course Chicken Milanese with arugula and tomato paired with 2010 HAKA Cabernet Sauvignon

4th Course Grilled peach compote with buttermilk short paired with 2010 HAKA Viognier.

Labyrinth’s Tasting Room is located in downtown Ventura on Main near Chestnut near the movie theater. The 2012 Labyrinth Syrah is the August Wine of the Month: you can get this $45 wine now for only $30 each.  Learn more by clicking here. 

If you don’t want to go to the work of learning how to prepare a meal, or you don’t want to stand around for samples and If a more sit down event is your style,  or if the Cafe Zack samples were too popular and you missed out at “Bounty of the County” (yes that has happened to me before!) then make your reservation now for Cafe Zack which is hosting a five course dinner with Clos Pepe Thursday Aug. 20 at 630pm.

Highlights of the menu include a 2013 Mourvedre Rose, Axis Mundi from Santa Ynez Valley which they will pair Alaskan King Crab Cakes with chili oil orange soy aioli followed by Nectarine Crispy Pancetta Summer Salad with baby greens, nectarines, crispy Pancetta, goat cheese with honey lemon dressing (oh my!) with 2014 Grenache Blanc, Axis Mundi – Santa Ynez Valley. Roasted Butternut Squash Tortellachi with fresh basil brown butter comes next paired with 2012 Chardonnay, Clos Pepe Estate, Barrel Fermented – Sta Rita Hills, and then the 2012 Pinot Noir, Clos Pepe Estate – Sta Rita Hills is paired with Pan Seared Duck Breast with medley of mixed berry reduction.

Cafe Zack is one of my favorite restaurants plus I tasted Clos Pepe last year at the Wine Bloggers Conference and the wines are impressive. This will be a very enjoyable and memorable meal. Cost is $70 per person; call 805.643.9445 for reservations. CAFE ZACK is located at 1095 East Thompson Blvd.  Ventura, California 93001  www.CafeZack.com

Read more about the Ventura County Fair here.