Simi café serving up cappuccinos, culture
Special to the Acorn By Angela Randazzo

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers ADORNED WITH ART- The walls of Café Valentino in Simi Valley will never be empty if owners Rich and Vicki Turziano have anything to do with it. The couple recently started an "Artist of the Month" exhibit at the café where a local artist is selected to have his or her art featured on the café's wall for 30 days. This month the oil and watercolor paintings of local artist Cindy Anders are on display.

Café Valentino has the feel of an Italian coffee house with a touch of '60s hippie hangout. It's an intimate place to meet with friends over espresso, lattes, frothy concoctions and tasty teas.

"The café's the best. It's a good atmosphere, nice people, friendly people. The hot chocolate is really yummy," said Heather Vardanian, 21, a student at Cal State Northridge "It's like a hangout. You can do homework and study here."

Richard Turziano and his wife, Vicki, were regular customers before buying the business when the owners retired in December.

"We just love the small-town feel of the café, that it wasn't a chain like Starbucks," Richard Turziano said. "We've done some remodeling to give it more of a European atmosphere."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers BEHIND THE COUNTER- Vicki Turziano and her son, Jonathan, help a customer with her order Monday at the café.

Tucked in a shopping plaza on East Los Angeles Avenue, Café Valentino enjoys a brisk day trade. It's also become a popular spot on Friday evenings, when different solo artists or groups showcase their talent. Patrons can relax, sipping coffee to the music of local performers.

Abigail Cosio, 25, a Simi High graduate now attending art and design school in Los Angeles, has worked at the café for two years.

Cosio calls herself a barista (Italian for bartender) and serves up the coffees and teas. She's also an aspiring musician who performs with her band at the Friday night venue.

"I started playing alone here, very girl singer/songwriter, and I slowly added my friends, and now we're a five-piece band," Cosio said. "We play my compositions, rooted in folk music with a bit of blues and country."

An artist-of-the-month exhibit adds color and variety to Café Valentino's décor. Some of the art, which ranges from oils to watercolors to photographs, is for sale, and all proceeds go to the artist.

Recently, the work of local photographer Marcie Kraft, 47, was displayed. It was Kraft, said Turziano, who suggested continuing the tradition of hanging the work of local artists on the walls of the café.

"Marcie has been very well received here. It's her first show. She was a little excited and rightfully so," said Turziano, who charges the artists no commission on the sale of their artwork.

Kraft has a law degree and works as a child custody mediator with Ventura County. She's been interested in photography since childhood but had viewed it as a hobby until a few years ago when she began taking her craft more seriously.

Encouraged by her friends, the self-taught photographer decided to show her artistic side and exhibit her work, which is composed mostly of nature shots.

"I want people to look at my work and say, 'That's amazing. How did you get that shot?'" Kraft said. "I do that when I look at photographs. I want to bring out the 'wow' factor for somebody."

Since opening 10 years ago, Café Valentino has been a place patrons describe as homey as "Cheers." The new owners are continuing that welcoming tradition.

"With Simi's growth it doesn't have the hometown feel like it used to," Turziano said. "We want our patrons to feel our café is a little home place to relax and sit with friends."