Urban Plates, PizzaRev and Chipotle Set to Open Soon at The Oaks Mall

11/11/16: Urban Plates will be opening on Monday, November 14th.

Construction is nearly complete at the new building adjacent to the Muvico Theater at The Oaks mall. Urban Plates, PizzaRev and Chipotle will soon be opening and are currently in hiring mode. Learn more at jobs.urbanplates.com, pizzarev.com/restaurant-jobs-careers and jobs.chipotle.com.

To mark the opening of its new Thousand Oaks restaurant, PizzaRev is treating guests to FREE pizza on Thursday, July 21 from 11 am – 10 pm. Anyone who ‘Likes’ or ‘Follows’ PizzaRev on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat and shows their like/follow status via phone or print-out will receive one complimentary, personal-sized pizza with any toppings of his or her choice.

PizzaRev offers fresh pressed, homemade dough, locally sourced ingredients, all-natural cheeses and vegan and gluten-free options. PizzaRev offers a fully-customized dining experience that empowers guests to craft a personal pizza, including any of the 35+ toppings, for one price. The restaurant also serves custom entrée salads, a delectable Oreo dessert pizza, and a selection of beer and wine.

Self-Sealing Water Balloons are Saving Me Hours of Time This Summer!

As a parent of two boys and trusty husband, willing to be at the beck and call of serving the needs of my family, one of the most dreaded requests I receive is, "please fill up the water balloons." 

Yes, even here in drought-stricken Southern California, we're entitled to some fun with water balloons every now and then. They actually don't take a lot of water to fill them. But filling them and tying them rank fairly high on my list of dreaded tasks. It just takes awhile to do, some of them pop in my face, tying them is a pain in the next, etc.

So when I came across these "self-sealing" water balloons, I was intrigued. Do they really work? Are they worth it? (They are a bit more expensive than buying a standard package of water balloons.) 

So with little ado, I purchased several packages of these Zuru "Bunch O Balloons" and hid them away in the garage. Then finally I decided to surprise the kids with them.

Odd little buggers. Basically each package (which costs roughly $11 to $14) comes with 3 bunches of balloons attached to a hose connector. Each balloon has a tiny rubber band pre-attached to it. You screw the connector to the hose, turn the hose on, and the balloons start filling up. Within seconds, they start popping off the connector, each balloon nicely tied up and ready to become a projectile missile!

It was beautiful. Except when the kids started chasing me around the backyard, nailing me repeatedly with them. I was soaked, but thrilled that I didn't have to spend an hour filling the balloons up in back-breaking fashion.

I was amazed at how easy this was and how well it worked. Out of the initial two packages of balloons (200 in total), a single balloon has a leak.

Was it worth it!? Absolutely. For roughly 12 cents per balloon, it saved me hours of backbreaking time filling these up. I'm definitely buying more! Check it out and have fun!

Chang 101 in Thousand Oaks Closing Their Doors on July 3rd

Chang 101 is closing its doors at close of business today, Sunday, July 3rd, after operating seven years at 2024 East Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Thanks for the heads up from Melissa B via the CVG Facebook Page.

Have a hankering for Chinese food? A number of folks have given kudos to Golden Dragon Chinese Cuisine at 2418 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard (near Harold's House of Pancakes). Learn more at goldendragon.ordersnapp.com.

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in June 2016

The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following facility closures were noted in June 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

Domino's Pizza, 3661 E. Las Posas Road, Camarillo;

Sewage overflowing inside facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 06/30/16; Date reopened - 06/30/16

El Torito Restaurant, 2498 Erringer Road, Simi Valley;

Plumbing inoperable resulting in the discharge of sewage;

Date closed - 06/30/16; Date reopened - 06/30/16

Thousand Wok Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, 450 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 06/29/16; Date reopened - 06/30/16

Mercado Numero Uno, (meat and hot foods areas only), 1616 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley;

Utensil washing facilities not available due to inoperable plumbing;

Date closed - 06/28/16; Date reopened - 06/29/16

Enzo's Italian Restaurant, 134 Mill Street, Santa Paula;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 06/28/16; Date reopened - 07/01/16

La Vero's Mexican Seafood & Grill, 231 W. 5th Street, Oxnard;

Sewage overflowing inside facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 06/21/16; Date reopened - 06/21/16

Super Panda Buffet, 355 S. Mills Road, Ventura;

No hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing;

Date closed - 06/20/16; Date reopened - 06/20/16

Saffron Indian Cuisine, 579 N. Ventu Park Rd., Newbury Park;

Cockroach infestation; unsanitary conditions

Date closed - 06/16/16; Date reopened - 06/17/16

Smart & Final (Bakery section only), 7800 Telegraph Rd., Ventura;

No hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing;

Date closed - 06/16/16; Date reopened - 06/17/16

Nona's Courtyard, 67 S. California Street, Ventura;

Unsanitary conditions due to construction work inside food preparation and utensil washing areas;

Date closed - 06/15/16; Date reopened - 06/17/16

Jeanette's Edelweiss, 2160 Newbury Rd., Newbury Park;

Cockroach infestation; unsanitary conditions

Date closed - 06/13/16; Date reopened - 06/15/16

Cisco's, 925 S Westlake Blvd, Westlake (restaurant area only);

Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures;

Date closed - 06/13/16; Date reopened - 06/14/16

Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine Opens Thousand Oaks Location

CVG reader Zachary S. filled us in that Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine has opened its second Ventura County location, this one here in the Conejo Valley at 1610 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks (just west of Erbes Road and the venerable Lupe's Mexican Restaurant.

Moqueca has served up authentic Brazilian food at its Channel Islands Harbor location for over seven years. Learn more at www.moquecarestaurant.com. Reservations currently being taken at 805.230.3585.

9021PHO at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks Closed Its Doors on Wednesday, June 29th

Micki J. alerted us via the CVG Facebook Page that 9021PHO is no longer open at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. They originally opened this location on August 18, 2014.

This was confirmed by the fact that the Thousand Oaks 9021PHO location is absent from the 9021PHO website and a comment by Zach R. of 9021PHO via Yelp.

If this leaves you seeking a Pho replacement, there's a new placed called Love Pho Cafe coming soon to the former Sossy's location in Newbury Park. 

On a personal note, I've also had good experience with the Pho at Thousand Wok on Moorpark Road and Streets by Bistro Orient on Skyline Drive. Pho sure.