Dinner--at the Door

It’s not unusual for Jason Lowman of Ojai to pick up dinner at the Sea Fresh Seafood restaurant a couple of times nightly. He might even drop by Roger Keller’s Restaurant and maybe Calypso’s Bar & Grill.

Of course, Lowman isn’t going to all these Ojai Avenue establishments so he can leisurely eat several dinners in an evening.

He stays just long enough to grab the food and drop it in the passenger seat of his car. From there, it’s off to a hungry household somewhere between Ojai and Oak View.

Lowman, 22, is owner and primary driver of Ojai Delivers, a restaurant delivery business that serves as the link between the area’s at-home diners and its chefs.

“I had just gotten out of the Navy and needed something to keep me busy,” said Lowman, who started the service about four months ago. “Living here I realized that this service isn’t available and the demographics of the people--they are fairly wealthy or at least very middle class, with retirement homes and elderly around here--it would be just a really good service.”

Along with Sea Fresh, Roger Keller’s and Calypso’s, his Ojai clients include Lanna Thai Cuisine, Le Veranda, Los Caporales Restaurant, Carrow’s and Pastabilities Restaurant. He also will make pickups from the Pastabilities’ Wine Cellar. Another six area restaurateurs also have shown interest.

Lowman, who operates from 4:30 to 9 p.m. daily, said there is a $10 minimum per order and a $3 deliver charge. Lowman accepts cash or checks, no credit cards. “Originally, I wasn’t sure how it would take off,” he said. “Here in Ojai it’s hard to establish a business. But as long as it’s done properly, with a lot of energy, it’s something that could stay in Ojai for some time.”

So far, he is doing on the average of seven to nine deliveries per night, he said.

Though there are similar delivery services in other towns, Lowman said, the Ojai Valley is a particularly pleasant area to serve.

“I think it’s easier in Ojai because all of my restaurants are located within a one-mile radius and all of my customers are no more than 10 miles away, and certainly most are within five miles,” he said.

To use the service, customers must call the restaurant, put in their order and request that it be delivered. The restaurant then contacts Lowman.

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Leeward Winery will provide the drinks, and Chef Reece Keck will serve up the eats Saturday and Sunday at the winery’s sixth annual Taste of Ventura.

Keck, former chef at Ventura’s City Bakery and the Ash Street Coffee House, will use locally grown produce to create a variety of food samplings. Her planned menu includes black bean salad with cumin-lemon dressing; bruschetta; avocado, orange and red onion salad with chile-orange dressing; and lemon tarts.

Guests will be able to wash down the food with sips of Leeward’s current releases. Visitors also will be offered tours of the winery.

Taste of Ventura will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2784 Johnson Drive. Admission is free. For more information call 656-5054.