North County food briefs

By: North County Times | Wednesday, January 4, 2006 8:56 PM PST ∞

New products
COFFEE OUT: General Foods International offers Vanilla Creme and Vanilla Creme Sugar Free hot drink mixes. The drinks have no caffeine or coffee. Suggested retail price per tin is $3.69.

Opening


CARLSBAD CLUB: The Red Dahlia Supper Club, a program of the Red Dahlia restaurant in Carlsbad, opens this Friday and Saturday. The supper club features a prix-fixe tasting menu and optional vegetarian tasting menu on the first Friday and Saturday of the month. Menus, number of courses and prices will vary. January's menu includes Succulent Veal Cheeks with Chino Farms Root Vegetables; Lobster Medallion Salad; Maple-Cured Pork Belly in the Sous-Vide Style; Tourchon de Foie Gras; Filo And Goat Cheese Tartlet; and Bittersweet Bourbon Bavarian. Red Dahlia's Supper Club is in the La Costa Towne Center at 7740 El Camino Real, Suite F, Carlsbad. Call for seating times and reservations: (760) 479-1522 or visit reddahlia.net.

Good causes

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Senior Gleaners of San Diego County members pick fruit and collect supermarket-donated groceries that would otherwise go to waste, and give them to nonprofit organizations. Anyone age 55 and older is welcome to join the group or attend its bimonthly meetings at the Rancho Bernardo Library. Volunteers are needed to assist with picking, driving and supplying pickup trucks for delivering. Call (760) 746-1674 or (619) 582-2299.

Events


HARD COEUR: The Escondido Rotary Club No. 915 hosts the third annual Coeur de Cuisine on Feb. 26 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. More than 35 chefs from North County in particular and San Diego County in general will be on hand offering samples of their signature dishes. Wines from county vintners will also be available for tastes. The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, musical entertainment, and a special tribute to Escondido philanthropist Edna Sahm. Funds raised from go towards community charities supported by the Escondido Rotary Club such as The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, Palomar Family YMCA, Escondido Children's Museum, Interfaith Community Services, First Night Escondido, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and a variety of scholarships for local students planning to attend college. Tickets are $125 per person and sponsorships are available at $500, $1,000, $2,500, and $5,000 levels. For more information, and to buy tickets, visit www.coeurdecuisine.com, or contact Debra Rosen at (760) 745-8877.

PASTRY DAREDEVILS: Pastry chef Scott Green of Four Seasons Aviara competed in July 2005 in a "Pastry Daredevils" competition taped for the "Food Network Challenge." The show will air on Food Network at 10 p.m. Sunday. Reruns are at 2 a.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Jan. 12, 1 a.m. Jan. 13, 6 p.m. Jan. 14 and 3 p.m. Jan. 15. Green had to create a 5-foot-tall sugar sculpture on the theme, "Tall Tales."

SLIM WITH SUBWAY: You've heard how Subway spokesman Jared Fogle lost weight by eating Subway sandwiches. Now the sandwich chain offers a Fresh Resolutions program, where people who want to lose weight can get advice on how to set realistic goals and motivation to stay focused. From noon to 8 p.m. Monday to Jan. 8, the "Fresh Resolutions Hotline," (877) NOW FRESH (877-669-3737), offers free support, advice and resources from nutritionists. Also starting Monday, people can visit www.subwayfreshresolutions.com and sign up for free daily phone reminders and motivational recordings from Jared Fogle all month long. He will also be offering "live" support to people randomly selected from the opt-in caller list. And for every visit to Subway from Monday through Feb. 19, customers will get a Fresh Resolutions instant-win game card. For complete Official Rules and details, visit www.subwayfreshresolutions.com in January.

In the spirits


DAILY TASTINGS: Sonoma Valley Market offers daily wine tastings costing between $5-$10. Hours are 5-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5-8 p.m. Friday, and noon-8 p.m. Saturday. Tastings will be themed by region or winery. No reservations needed. The market is at 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Suite 300, Carlsbad. Call (760) 720-7700.

WEEKLY TASTING: Wine Street Inc. hosts tastings from 5:30-8 p.m. Fridays. Appetizers to match the wines are served. Wine Street is at 6986 El Camino Real, Suite D, in Carlsbad. Call (760) 431-8455 or visit www.winestreet.com:

Friday: The Best Under $20: Great Values for Everyday, $15

Jan. 13: Rocca, JC Cellars and More Wintertime Reds, $20

Jan. 20: Moulin Rouge: Red Wines of France with Bordeaux specialist John Yelenovsky, $25

Jan. 27: Silver Oak's 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Pre-Release Tasting, $25

WINE BAR TASTINGS: The Holiday Wine Cellar offers these tastings from 5-7 p.m. Thursdays or 3:30-7 p.m. Saturdays at its Wine Bar in the Cellar, 302 W. Mission Ave., Escondido. Call (760) 745-1200, e-mail info@holidaywinecellar.com, or visit www.holidaywinecellar.com:

WINE TASTING: Carlsbad Wine Merchants offers tastings at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for a small fee at 5814 Van Allen Way, Suite 155, Carlsbad. Call (888) 750-WINE or visit www.CarlsbadWineMerchants.com:

Friday-Saturday: New Year's Great Values: Best Picks Under $20, $10.

Jan. 13-15: Pacific Northwest: the Wines of Oregon and Washington State, $20.

Jan. 20-22: New World Malbec, $10.

Jan. 28: The Second Annual Grape Bowl, 2-5 p.m. Taste more than 30 wines. Ticket sales benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad. Tasting fee: $30 per person or $50 for 2 tickets.

WINE TASTING: Wild Note Cafe hosts Wine Wednesday tastings monthly. Call (858) 259-7310 for cost and schedule.

Classes


AT ESCONDIDO: The city of Escondido offers these classes. Sign up at (760) 839-4691 or www.escondido.org/recreation:

-- Cookies Galore! 6-8:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Bring a mixing bowl, spoon and cookie sheets; no baking is done in class. Cost is $25 plus $10 material fee.

-- Thai Fruit Carving, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 19 and Feb. 16. Bring a melon to practice. Cost is $20 plus $7 material fee.

-- Healthy Family Cooking, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 20. Cost is $20 plus $6 material fee.

-- Sushi, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 31. Cost is $20 plus $10 material fee.

-- Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate! 6-8 p.m. Feb. 13. Bring apron, mixing bowl, spoon and container to take home your goodies. Cost is $25 plus $10 material fee.

-- Japanese Steak (Wa-Fuu), 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Cost is $20 plus $10 material fee.

JIMBO'S TEACHES: Jimbo'sÖNaturally! presents "Fueling Up on Low Fat Foods," a nutrition and cooking class, from 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Escondido store, 1923 S. Centre City Parkway, Felicita Junction. Free. Reserve to (760) 489-7755. This is the first in a series of eight classes, and will be taught by Tracy Childs of Poway, certified cooking instructor for The Cancer Project.

AT MIRACOSTA COLLEGE: MiraCosta College offers these courses starting the week of Jan. 23. Ý California residents pay $26 per unit. Call (760) 757-2121 or visit www.miracosta.edu:

-- Culinary Arts Basics (REST 160, two units) Offered 2-5:50 p.m. Tuesdays, and 5-8:50 p.m. Wednesdays, both at Guajome Park Academy in Vista. This course is geared for people interested in going into the culinary field but also for those who just want to learn or improve their cooking skills. Topics include fundamental cooking techniques; stocks, sauces, and soups; pasta, rice, and potatoes; meats, poultry and vegetables; kitchen and recipe organization; safety and sanitation procedures; equipment; and professional work habits. Instructor is Jane Albo. ÝÝ

-- Catering and Event Management (REST 155, three units) Offered 3-5:50 p.m. Thursdays at MiraCosta's Oceanside campus, One Barnard Drive. This course covers the marketing and management of catering, including special functions. Topics include planning, organizing, and operating catering and special event services. Instructor is Karen Smith.

KITCHEN WITCH: These classes and more are offered at the Kitchen Witch Gourmet Shop & Cooking School, 127 N. El Camino Real, Suite D, Encinitas. Prices vary. Call (760) 942-3228 or visit www.kitchenwitchonline.com:

Friday: An Invitation to the Japanese Table

Saturday: Just for Kids ---- Big Top Circus Foods

Monday: Hit the Road with Steakhouse 66 (guest chef)

Tuesday: Martinis & Hors d'Oeuvres

Wednesday: Cool Weather = Comfort Food

Jan. 12: Encore Tuscany

Jan. 14: Chinese New Year (Hands-on)

Jan. 16: Fusing Flavors with Roy's

Jan. 17: Thai Flavors at Home

Jan. 18: Winter Soups & Chowders

AT SUR LA TABLE: These classes and more are offered at Sur La Table, Carlsbad. Classes are $55 unless otherwise noted. Register to (760) 635-1316 or visit surlatable.com:

Tuesday: French Bistro Night With Rancho Bernardo Inn

Jan. 12: Comfort Foods With a Twist

Jan. 14: New Year's Cooking With Cal-a-Vie Spa

Jan. 17: Cooking With Friends, $70

Jan. 19: Aloha From Roy's, $60

Jan. 20: Chinese New Year (kids), $45

Jan. 23: Asian Fusion for Two From Cafe Japengo

Jan. 24: Indian Cuisine

Jan. 25: :Essential Knife Skills, $65

Jan. 27: Chinese New Year (kids), $45

Jan. 30: Cooking Light in the New Year

Jan. 31: A Few Friends for Dinner

Feb. 1: Sweet Indulgences From Roy's

Feb. 2: Aphrodisiac Cooking, $65

Feb. 3: Be My Valentine (kids), $45

Feb. 6: Winter Soups

Feb. 8: Good Deal: Cooking Fresh and Affordable, $75

Feb. 9: Two Easy Menus and Desserts, $65

Feb. 10: Be My Valentine (kids), $45

Chain news


SMALL BITES: Mimi's Cafe restaurants add two items to their Small Bites menu ---- Zesty Chicken Tostada Salad (also available in full-order size) and Smoked Chicken and Two Cheese Ravioli. Seasonal additions to the regular menu are Grilled Steak Flat Bread, Blackened Chicken Caesar Flat Bread, Blackened "Soul" With Shrimp Creole, Broiled Flat Iron Steak and Tender Pork Shank.

PICK UP SHRIMP: Now through Jan. 15, Pick Up Stix restaurants offer Yin Yang Shrimp, Yin Yang Chicken and Yin Yang Tofu. The Yin Yang flavorings feature sweet sugar cane, tangy vinegar and chile.

STUFFED SHELLS: Olive Garden rings in the New Year with two stuffed shells specialties from Jan. 2 through Feb. 12: Stuffed Shells With Shrimp and Stuffed Shells With Sausage.

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Send information about local food products, food events or classes to Food Editor, North County Times, 207 E. Pennsylvania, Escondido, CA 92025, fax to (760) 745-3769, or e-mail to features@nctimes.com.

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