Deputies to Offer Tips to Special Olympians

Law enforcement officers from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will assume a different kind of public-service role Monday night at Wood Ranch Barbecue & Grill in Camarillo.

Officers will be writing tickets, but don’t worry about soiling your record.

It’s an installment of the annual “Tip-a-Cop” fund-raiser, which benefits Ventura County Special Olympics.

The “celebrity” wait staff will include Undersheriff Craig Husband, commanders Dave Tennessen and Kathy Kemp, plus other deputies and Ventura County Probation Agency personnel.

Tip ‘em big, folks.

All gratuities will help support athletic training and competition opportunities for more than 550 special athletes in Ventura County.

DETAILS

The “Tip-a-Cop” Special Olympics fund-raiser will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday at Wood Ranch Barbecue & Grill, 1101 Daily Drive, Camarillo. Call 482-1202.

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Awards & Honors: Kitchen Whippers, a Ventura start-up company operated by Karen Davidson and Christine Hooper, specializes in upscale baking mixes.

If the American Tasting Institute is any judge, the partners are doing good work.

Kitchen Whippers was recently awarded two top honors at the institute’s 14th annual Gold Medal Product Awards ceremony, which was held at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Davidson and Hooper’s “Scrumptious Scone Mix” and “Fiesta Corn Bread Mix” each received best of show gold medals.

The winning mixes were chosen by a panel of industry professionals who evaluated products from across the nation in several categories.

“It’s a great feeling, since we’re certainly not making much money yet,” Hooper said.

Kitchen Whippers mixes, which include breads, waffles, cakes, cookies and others, are available in a few area specialty stores and on the Internet at https://www.kitchenwhippers.com.

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Recipes With a Cause: “The Collection: Recipes From the Heart” is a nicely packaged fund-raising effort for Christopher’s Place, the only group home in Ventura County that serves men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Here is a simple gift that might work for Mother’s Day or just a token of friendship for that special someone.

The recipes were submitted by more than 50 Ventura residents.

There are four themed packs, each with 22 recipes.

Choose from hors d’oeuvres, entrees, sweets and a la carte recipes.

The 3-by-5-inch card collections, ranging from $10 to $15, are neatly packaged and come with either a pair of wooden spoons or a card holder in the shape of a rolling pin.

The fund-raising effort is sponsored by the Serra Project, which operates Christopher Place.

To make a purchase, call Anne Hansen at 484-7422.

Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached at 653-7572, fax 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.