PRESS RELEASES

OJAI, CALIF. (September 15, 2015) – The iconic Southern California resort, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, has created a fully reimagined culinary experience, with the opening of new signature restaurant Olivella and Vine, and the reinvigorated Wallace Neff Heritage Bar. The opening of these new dining destinations marks the culmination of phase one in a series of resort-wide enhancements designed to fuse the Inn’s celebrated legacy with the discriminating desires of today’s luxury traveler. With new culinary leadership, a contemporary perspective and enduring commitment to valley-grown ingredients, the resort’s revitalized food and beverage program introduces the Inn to locals and travelers as the Valley’s newest epicurean escape.

The resort’s culinary revolution begins with the passionate and talented chefs that obsess over every detail of the menu and preparation. Overseeing all of the resort’s dining, Executive Chef Truman Jones is a former farmer turned chef. Having worked in an array of Five-Star and Michelin-rated kitchens, Chef Jones brings deep farming roots and a long standing commitment to local, seasonal and responsibly raised ingredients along with a passion for fine technique. Leading the kitchen of Olivella and Vine is Chef de Cuisine, Andrea Rodella, who is renowned for his signature style that marries the season’s best ingredients with the traditional preparations he learned as a boy growing up in northern Italy.

Olivella and Vine presents an innovative concept of distinctly California cuisine with Italian influences. The seasonally driven menu showcases a long-standing commitment to valley-grown ingredients with a nod to Italian tradition with signature dishes that include: Local Heirloom Tomatoes with DiStefano Burrata, Charred Treviso and 30-year aged Balsamico; Seared Scallops with Castroville Artichokes, Farm Peaches, “galletta di riso” and Estate Mint; Ora King Salmon Filet with Caponata, Fregola and Sea Asparagus and Rigatoni with Chef Rodella’s

The 240-seat restaurant is divided into a variety of large and intimate dining spaces, with unique art pieces and custom designed lighting throughout that creates a residential feeling. Stylish private dining rooms feature oversized, intricately hand-carved White Russian Oak farm doors, soaring ceilings, sizeable windows and a cozy fireplace. A dramatic wine library surrounds the private wine room, with a carefully curated collection of hundreds of bottles from boutique vineyards the world over. The private wine room’s communal dining table seats 14 and is lit by a contemporary chandelier of steel and glass accompanied by dramatic artwork and coffered ceilings. Dual patios for al fresco dining offer prime viewing for Ojai’s legendary “Pink Moment” sunsets.

A cornerstone of Ojai’s history since 1923 and long regarded as the resort’s historic center, the venerable Wallace Neff Heritage Bar has been carefully refreshed to serve as a welcoming gathering space, steeped in history yet featuring contemporary comforts, named after the renowned architect who built the clubhouse. An expanded courtyard with oversized fire pits and comfortable seating is filled with fragrance from surrounding lavender and magnolia gardens and leads to a handsome lounge filled with cozy nooks, overstuffed sofas, distressed leather armchairs and tables set for board games. A re-conceptualized food and beverage program features a seasonally-driven menu of small bites and a Heritage menu of hand-crafted cocktails with names that offer a nod to legendary silver screen movies that drew inspiration from Ojai. These classic libations include: Wallace’s Muse with Private Label Herradura Double Barrel Tequila, Strawberry-Arbol Chili Shrub and Soda, and the Lost Horizon with Hangar One Vodka, Zhena Italian Chamomile Tea, St. Germain and Lemon.

About Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

Nestled in the bohemian enclave of Ojai is the historic Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, a luxurious retreat that has been one of California’s most revered destinations since opening in 1923. Located just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, the resort overlooks the unspoiled natural beauty of its mountain surroundings and celebrates the relaxed glamour of California’s past to create an unparalleled resort experience that is quintessentially Ojai. The resort turns the page to a new chapter this summer with the unveiling of a series of enhancements that further elevate the resort experience while remaining true to its authentic spirit.

Set on 220-oak studded acres, resort guests can indulge in an abundance of active and peaceful pleasures with a George C. Thomas designed golf course; soul soothing spa therapies at the 31,000 square foot Spa Ojai; instruction that encourages creative consciousness in the Artist Cottage; essential oil blending in the Apothecary; multiple pools and more than five dining outlets with settings that range from fast-casual to fine dining. In 2015, the Inn was honored among the Condé Nast Traveler “Top 100 Hotels in the World” editor-selected “Gold List” and was selected by the Travel + Leisure readers as one of the “500 Best Hotels in the World,” affirming the Inn as a treasured destination that authentically combines the regions unspoiled spirituality with 21st-century luxury.

For additional information and guest bookings, please visit www.ojairesort.com or call 1-800-422-6524.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Wendi Shapiro | Ashley King | Melissa Ward
Murphy O’Brien Public Relations
ojai@murphyobrien.com
(310) 453-2539