OXNARD : Food and Wine Taste Festival to Continue

The spicy fragrance of barbecued chicken, Greek gyros and Indian dahl wafted through crowds of people attending the Taste of Ventura County food and wine festival, which continues today at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.

Mixing with the aroma from the 18 Ventura County restaurants that have booths at the festival were the sounds of jazz, blues and swing bands, set up at one end of the event. The event has already drawn close to 10,000 since Friday, and organizers are hoping for at least another 8,000 today, the last day of the event.

“Everything about (the festival) is better than last year’s, except the weather and we’re hoping that will change soon,” said Ray Herbert, who produced the festival for Channel Islands Harbor.

Jean-Claude Guerin, dressed in a chef’s jacket, was serving creme carmel and bruscettas-- hard-crusted bread topped with a tangy tomato and basil blend.

“I don’t like to brag, but we do have the best food,” Guerin said with a heavy French accent. “I think our food is a bit fancier than what many people are used to,” he said. “This is a great way to inexpensively expose people to a lot of different types of food.”

Along with the food stands, there were also activities for children, such as face-painting and temporary tattoos.

Lafe Isaacson, 6, and his sister, Callie, 9, looked through the display for just the right temporary tattoo. Their mother, Geri, said Callie was set on what she wanted, while Lafe could not make up his mind. “Callie wants the flower because it’s big and bright,” she said. “(Lafe) wants something scary.”

While artist Troy Overman dabbed an orange and red marker to color the flower petals he was drawing on Callie’s leg, Lafe pondered the possibilities of going for a Harley Davidson tattoo or something a bit more sinister.

“This is a big deal for him,” she said as Lafe seemed to waiver between a colorful tattoo of a skull and crossbones or one of a ninja. His mother kept pointing out nice drawings of rainbow-colored stars and moons. In the end, his mother’s wisdom won out and Lafe went for a unicorn rearing up on its hind legs.

“It looks good,” his mother said.

Special attractions featured on Sunday include an ice sculptor demonstration and a “Big Band Brunch.” The festival opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. on the waterfront promenade next to Vintage Marina at 2950 S. Harbor Blvd.