About Me

Growing up in a Southern family with a mother who loves to cook, food has always played a central role in my life. Whether its the fried chicken my grandmother used to make or the family tradition of making Moravian sugar cakes each Christmas - many of my best childhood memories revolve around food. Yet it wasn’t until I had children and found myself at home more that my love of food and cooking grew into what it is today. Though I’ve been a wilderness trip leader, a corporate trainer, and even owned my own stationery business, it wasn’t until a few years ago when I started writing about food that I knew what it felt like to truly love my job.

That said, I'm anything but a food snob. I shy away from calling myself a foodie, and I appreciate a greasy $4 cheeseburger just as much as a five-course wine pairing dinner. Simply put, I'm a busy mom who likes to eat well and tries to feed her family healthy food most of the time. I'm not embarrassed to admit that Trader Joe's frozen meals make regular appearances on my dinner table and that I have been known to hit the drive through on occasion. When I do get a chance to eat a nice meal out, like everyone, I want good food, solid service, and a nice atmosphere. And when I find a restaurant, shop, or new product that I really love, I can't resist telling everyone I know.

I currently write for Edible Ojai and Ventura County Magazine and do regular restaurant reviews for the VC Reporter. I am a regular contributor to Ventana Monthly Magazine and have appeared twice on KCRW’s Good Food with Evan Kleiman. I also write the food blog Ventura Food Happenings, where visitors can access all of my Ventura County restaurant reviews. Writing about food, restaurants, and foodie entrepreneurs brings me such joy and is a wonderful outlet for my creative energy.

Starting Ventura Food Tours is yet another way to share this passion for food, my love of the Ventura area, and some of my favorite food finds with others. I hope you’ll come on one of our tours and join us as we eat our way through Ventura County.

Allison Costa, Owner, Ventura Food Tours LLC