Spicy Food and Fiery Entertainment

Drive or ride the train up to Oxnard to experience their 17th annual Salsa Festival on July 24 and 25 from 11:00am-7:00pm. The Oxnard transportation center is located three short blocks from the festivities at Plaza Park on Fifth and “B” street in downtown Oxnard.  Everything is salsa at this regional festival.  Salsa and Latin jazz bands will perform continuously on the Main stage.

Step inside the Salsa tasting tent ($5 includes chips) to determine if you prefer the fresh and fruity type, hot and smoky, or sweet and spicy dip. There will be a spin on the hit TV show Dancing with the Stars, where members of the community will pair with Salsa dance instructors in a dance contest and charity fundraiser benefiting local charities.

Vendors will sell handmade jewelry, pottery, children’s items and imported handicrafts. Admission is free.  For additional information call (805)247-0197 or www.visitoxnard.com.

Sunday Brunch at Petrossian

Start your Sunday morning with a glass of Mumm-Napa Valley champagne or a Mimosa or Bellini while deciding what to order from an enticing three-course brunch menu. The classic cold Borscht is ideal on a warm summer day, as you sit outside on the front patio along N. Robertson Blvd. For your next course, the Croque Madam with ham, Gruyere cheese on a brioche with a Mornay sauce and eggs sunny side up or the smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, red onions, capers and organic mesclun will please your palate.  Follow up with a vanilla panna cotta, white peach espuma or Sicilian pistachio crème brulée with a cup of coffee, iced tea or homemade lemonade.  The prix fixe brunch is $39 per person. 321 North Robertson Blvd. (310)271-0576.

Cooking with Chef Andreas Nieto

The Executive Chef at the Westin Bonaventure opens his kitchen once a month to the community for an entertaining and memorable culinary class. This month he features the Pacific Northwest region with great seafood of the rocky coastline to produce from the rich farmlands. The class begins at 1:00pm on July 24.  Chef Andreas and his team guide guests as they prepare their own meals. Everyone gathers at the Chef’s Table to taste their creations paired with wines from a well-known winery. The cost of the class is $40 per person.  Participants must be 21 years of age and reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis. Parking at the Westin Bonaventure is validated at the event. 404 S. Figueroa Street. RSVP to Claudia Lambaren at Claudia.lambaren@westin.com

Duck Lovers

Chef Akira at Maison Akira is featuring duck dishes for the month of July. Start with a bite size amuse-bouché and then choose one of three appetizers including grilled duck foie gras, house smoked duck breast salad or Yukon potato and leek purée with shredded duck leg confit.  For entrées, a choice of Canard a la Orange, duck leg confit in a foie gras sauce with lentil beans and quinoa, or duo of duck breast and fish of the day.  To end your meal, choose a French caramel flan with raspberry sorbet or profiteroles with green tea ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.  $44 per person food only and $66 per person with wine pairings. 713 E. Green Street, Pasadena, (626)796-9501.

Iron Chef Contestant at Breadbar

On Thursday, July 29, Breadbar will present guest chef Makoto Okuwa, challenger on Iron Chef and executive chef of Manhattan Beach Sashi Sushi + Sake Lounge for a special tasting evening. Okuwa will present eight small plates from his Power of Miso menu. Each dish is $8 a plate and will include six savory and two sweet items. Guests may want to start the evening with an Okuwa watermelon cocktail of fresh watermelon, shochu, lemon and gomme (syrup) or a shiso mojito with fresh shiso and lime, mixed with rum, cachaca, agave and garnished with plum and sesame seeds.  Some of the savory dishes include Miso butter poached loch durant salmon, grilled baby squid with tuna sashimi, and Asian donuts peach “taco” with miso frozen yogurt. The event begins at 6:00pm.  Each guest must order a minimum of three dishes.  Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd R-2, (310)277-3770.

Murder Mystery Dinner at Lawry’s

Solve a crime Wednesday, July 28 at Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills at their “The Family Reunion” dinner party.  As you dine on their three-course classic prime rib or fresh salmon dinner, you will be introduced to William Langford and his young bride Ashley Bennett who just returned from their “around the world” honeymoon.  As the family meets Ashley, everyone loses their senses and someone will lose their inheritance at the end.  Who will it be? Reservations are to be made by calling (310)360-6281, ext. 4. 100 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Champagne Tasting

Every Tuesday at Vinoteque on Melrose they offer Sip & Swirl with food pairings. On July 27 at 7 and 9:00pm, tastings include three different champagnes and three appetizers for $20. On August 3, it’s German red wines. Guests must make reservations, because Sip & Swirl caps at 40 people.  7469 Melrose Ave. (310)860-6060.