Midtown's Hidden Gem: Daylight & Moon Café
Across from Community Memorial Hospital, tucked between Quest Diagnostic and Valley Liquor and Fine Wine, is a small café where artists can discuss books and ideas while people come in and out, ordering from among a variety of toasts, empanadas and coffees along with beers and wines.
Daylight and Moon Café owner Joshua Moschiano is hoping that the varied menu will entice customers wanting to take a break from a busy medical schedule or those just wanting a friendly spot to chat with friends.
“The location is easy to miss, so we are very reliant on the hospital employees,” says Moschiano, explaining that weather—too hot or too cold—can affect whether people decide to stroll over on their lunch hour. He says that so far business is being fueled by word of mouth. “Someone will meet one person, who asks, ‘Have you tried?’ and that person will visit and then they run into somebody else and they know somebody else. It creates a wonderful community of people.”
The spot was formerly occupied by Channel Islands Juices. But when that shop closed, Moschiano decided he’d put his 20-year-long coffee shop experience to good use. His father had died, leaving him as the beneficiary of his dad’s life insurance, along with the proceeds from the sale of his dad’s house. “I think he’d be incredibly proud,” he says.
“We did a lot of painting and made improvements in the music system to create a nicer vibe,” he says, adding that records and CDs are available for sale.
A single dad, Moschiano, often brings his daughters Lily, 12, and Katie, 8, to spend afternoons at the coffee shop. Both girls say that their favorite things at the shop are the toasts, with cookie butter toast a favorite.
Moschiano jokes that he often tastes his different toasts ideas in his head before he makes them. “I’m a huge Beach Boys fan and Brian Wilson would say he could hear every voice in his head before anyone had sung a note,” he says. “I get ideas in my head of unique flavor profiles—like one that’s cream cheese, cucumber, dill, pine nuts and preserved lemons. You’ve got saltiness and tartness—all of the flavors. And it ended up tasting exactly like it did in my head.”
Some of the other toasts include avocado (of course), smoked salmon, burrata, turkey and brie and brunch toast, which is served with a mimosa.
Empanadas by Chef Galo in Oxnard are a fairly recent addition. They include ratatouille, Argentinean beef and potato cheese varieties, and they are flying off the shelves, says Moschiano.
Tony Hernandez and his friend Delaney Peterson were enjoying an afternoon at the shop, chatting and sipping. “We love coming in here and talking about books,” says Peterson, who met Moschiano at Barnes and Noble, where he is also a regular. Hernandez has some of his paintings on display, and he’s even sold one at the shop.
Moschiano says he tries to focus on local purveyors, including locally roasted coffee by Calioh Coffee. Beer comes from local Ventura breweries and wine is from Central Coast vineyards. Fresh produce comes from The Berry Man. Signature coffee drinks include the Venturan with caramel sea salt—because the seaside city should have sea salt in its drink, says Moschiano. There’s Lavender Haze, because everyone’s a Swiftie these days, and a customer favorite, Café de Olla, which has an intense cinnamon coffee taste.
“Our regulars often hang out for hours and we all sit together and join in conversation,” he says. Moschiano does his part to encourage this environment by “the personal things—remembering their names and knowing what they order.”
Daylight and Moon Café
2991 Loma Vista Road, Suite C, Ventura.
805-342-3584
www.DaylightAndMoonCafe.com
