Food Briefs: Mike's Choice Meats opens second store in Oceanside

By: North County Times - | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 7:56 PM PDT ∞

Mike Sutherland, owner of Mike's Choice Meats at 3753 Mission Ave. in Oceanside (760-722-8491), has opened a second meat store at 1638 Ord Way, Oceanside (760-630-MEAT).

The new store devotes 2,300 square feet to processing beef, especially sides of beef aged 28 days. The Ord Way store features wholesale meat packages for the public, and a wider variety of meats, including wild game and ostrich. Visit www.mikeschoicemeats.com.

Super Suppers, a meal-assembly business, has a new franchise at 191 N. El Camino Real, Suite 201, Encinitas, run by Alison Jones and Angie Arboit. The business lets customers assemble meals, but also has an assembly service and delivers meals as well. Call (760) 944-3936 or e-mail at: info@ssencinitasca.com. Its Web site is www.ssencinitasca.com.

New products

FREEZER FLATBREADS: Stouffer's introduces Corner Bistro Microwaveable Flatbreads, crispy, seasoned breads with gourmet toppings, including cheese. Varieties are Chicken, Bacon And Spinach; Steak Fajita; Shrimp And Roasted Garlic; Margherita (tomatoes, basil, garlic, and red onions). Suggested retail price is $3.99.

Now open

MIKE'S MEATS II: Mike Sutherland, owner of Mike's Choice Meats at 3753 Mission Ave. in Oceanside (760-722-8491), has opened a second meat store at 1638 Ord Way, Oceanside (760-630-MEAT). The new store devotes 2,300 square feet to processing beef, especially sides of beef aged 28 days. The Ord Way store features wholesale meat packages for the public, and a wider variety of meats, including wild game and ostrich. Visit www.mikeschoicemeats.com.

Super Suppers, a meal-assembly business, has a new franchise at 191 N. El Camino Real, Suite 201, Encinitas, run by Alison Jones and Angie Arboit. The business lets customers assemble meals, but also has an assembly service and delivers meals as well. Call (760) 944-3936 or e-mail at: info@ssencinitasca.com. Its Web site is www.ssencinitasca.com.

Events

ARTICHOKE DINNER: Firefly Grill & Wine Bar hosts a four-course Celebration of Artichokes dinner Wednesday featuring wines by Bernardus Winery. Artichoke apparel will also be available to all attendees. Cost is $75 per person. Firefly Grill is at 251 N. El Camino Real, #B, Encinitas. Reserve to (760) 635-1066.

MEET THE CHEFS: Chefs from 14 top restaurants in San Diego County will serve up their signature dishes from 1-4 p.m. Sunday during the Meet the Chefs of Del Mar event at the Hilton Del Mar. Proceeds will benefit Casa de Amparo, a nonprofit agency caring for abandoned, abused and severely neglected children throughout San Diego County. Guests will also sample wines provided by John Parker of Young's Market/The Estates Group. Opportunity drawings, a silent auction, and live entertainment round out the event, and TV weatherman Loren Nancarrow will emcee. Tickets are available by calling Cindy Snowder, (760) 754-5500, Ext. 28.

DINING OUT FOR LIFE: San Diego restaurants are donating part of their profits from meals April 26 to raising funds to fight HIV/AIDS through Dining Out For Life International. By making a reservation for a meal on that date at a participating restaurant, you can make one meal matter. For a complete list of cities and participants, visit www.diningoutforlife.org.

WINE DINNER: J.Taylor's Restaurant at L'Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa launches its wine dinner series at 6 p.m. April 29 with Castello Banfi Wines. The five-course meal is $130 per person. This first vintners dinner will be a fundraiser for the Del Mar Village Association. The resort is at 1540 Camino del Mar, Del Mar. Reserve to (858) 755-1179 or visit www.laubergedelmar.com. ÝÝ

MAMA'S DAY: The annual benefit for Mama's Kitchen, a nonprofit meal delivery service for men, women and children affected by AIDS/HIV or other critical illnesses, will be at 6:30 p.m. May 11 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Mama's Day is the organization's signature event, where 70 of the San Diego area's top chefs join to provide a showcase of food and beverages in support of Mama's clients who rely on the meals delivered by volunteers throughout the year. Tickets are $125 and all proceeds benefit Mama's Kitchen. Call (619) 233-6262, Ext. 112, or buy online at www.mamaskitchen.org.

Classes

MAKING PASTA: North County Times humor columnist Irv Erdos demonstrates "The Art of Pasta Making" from 10 a.m. to noon April 27 at Palomar College's Escondido Education Center, 1951 E. Valley Parkway. He will offer instruction on preparing a variety of pastas from scratch including ravioli, gnocchi, fettuccine and tortellini. Register to (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2702.

COOKING CLASSES: Chef Don Heiser of Firehouse Gourmet in Encinitas offers these classes. Register at (760) 943-1744, e-mail firehousegourmet@cox.net or visit www.firehousegourmet.com. Cost ranges from $45-$55. The schedule:

May 5: Dinner With the Chef

June 9: Afternoon BBQ

June 30: Discovering Wine

July 7: Chef Don's Dinner

July 28: Summer Fun

COOKING CLASSES: Alchemy of the Hearth offers these "hands-on" cooking classes held at Escondido Adult School's San Pasqual High School or Poway Adult School's Rancho Bernardo High School. Register to (760) 745-6553 or visit www.alchemyofthehearth.com:

June 5: Barbeque University

June 12: Sauces

June 13: The Dinner Club

June 14: Cooking With Your Kids

KITCHEN WITCH: Kitchen Witch Gourmet Shop offers these classes and more at 127 N. El Camino Real, Suite D, Encinitas. Call (760) 942-3228 or visit www.kitchenwitchonline.com:

Friday: Red Wine and Health

Tuesday: San Diego Style Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday: Homemade Pizza

April 26: Indian Favorites

April 27: Fine Local Foods (guest chef from Seaside Market)

April 27: Spring Dinner Party

April 28: Gourmet Sandwiches (hands-on)

May 2: Pucker Up -- Cooking With Citrus

In the spirits

WINE COMPANY TASTINGS: The North County Wine Company hosts wine tastings daily at 1099 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, plus special events from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Call (760) 744-2119 or visit www.NorthCountyWineCompany.com:

5-8 p.m. April 26: Pacific Ridge Vineyards, $15.

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

Friday: Napa Handcrafted with winemaker Bob Nenow, $20.

May 4: New releases, $20.

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

Fri-Sun: Hook & Ladder, $20

HOLIDAY TASTES: Holiday Wine Cellar hosts these tastings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted at 302 W. Mission Ave., Escondido. Call (760) 745-1200:

6-8 p.m. April 26: Montes Chilean Wine Tasting, $15.

May 3: Washington State tasting, $12.

May 12: The Great and Powerful Zin!, $12.

6-7:30 p.m. May 17: Wine 101, $10.

May 24: German Rieslings, $12.

2-4 p.m. May 26: Southern Hemisphere tasting, $12.

June 7: Syrah From Around the World, $12.

WINE STYLES: Wine Styles in Encinitas hosts weekly tastings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays. Cost is $15, $10 for WineClub members and includes six to eight wines and snacks. The shop also hosts WineDown Fridays, where guests enjoy wine, live music and can bring in food to socialize. Call (760) 633-0057:

April 21: Guess the Grape (blind tasting)

Wednesday and April 26: "Reward Yourself" weekend wines

May 2 and 5: Paso Robles wines

May 3: Classic Wines and Artisan Cheeses, $30 (special event, R.S.V.P.)

May 9 and 12: Mother's Day celebration and gift wines

May 16 and 19: Everyday Quaffers and Patio Sippers

May 17: Sushi and Wine, $35 (special event, R.S.V.P.)

May 23 and 26: California Dreamin'

May 30 and June 2: Dads and Grads celebration and gift wines

June 6 and 9: Big and Bold

June 13 and 16: Silky and Sexy

June 20 and 23: Fruit Forward/Fruit Bombs

June 21: 'If You Insist' tasting, $35 (special event, RSVP)

June 27 and 30: Easy Going Mellows

On TV

Carlsbad chef and nutrition guru Jay Robb has a new TV program. "The Fat Burning Chef" will air at 7 a.m. Tuesdays on XDTV/Channel 13 and Direct TV Channel 49. Robb is the author of "Fruit Flush 3-Day Detox" and other nutrition books, as well as being a fitness club owner and clinical nutritionist. Visit jayrobb.com.

Honors and awards

Red Tracton's in Solana Beach is one of 18 state restaurants nominated for the 2007 California Beef Backer Award by the California Beef Council. For more about past California Beef Backer restaurants, visit www.calbeef.org.

Chain news

BK JOE: Burger King introduces Mocha BK Joe Iced Coffee, made with creamy coffee, blended with smooth chocolate syrup and poured over ice. It's available for a limited time. Suggested retail price is $1.99 for a 22-ounce cup. ... The Togo's chain has sacked its plastic forks and will now offer all its fresh and tasty salads wrapped in whole grain tortillas. The Togo's line of Salad Wraps include the Santa Fe Chicken Salad, Mediterranean Tuna Salad, Cobb Salad, Asian Chicken Salad, Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad, Taco Salad and Farmers Market Salad.

-- 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.