Food Briefs for March 27

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 26, 2008 10:14 PM PDT ∞

New products

CHOCOLATE RUSH: Starbucks Coffee Co. is now marketing a line of high-end chocolates flavored with its coffee and tea products, including Milk Chocolate Caramel Macchiato Truffles, Dark Chocolate Espresso Truffles, Milk Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, and milk and dark chocolate infused with Tazo brand teas. Manufactured by Hershey Co., the chocolates can be found at grocery and retail stores, but not in Starbucks coffee shops. Prices range from $2.99 for chocolate bars to $5.49 for truffles.

Events

Herb Festival and Tomatomania: Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas hosts its 11th annual Herb Festival Spring Plant Sale and Tomatomania from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event includes guided herb garden tours, a plant and herb sale, information booths, expert advice, a book signing by children's author Janell Cannon ("Stellaluna") and presentation by Austin cookbook author Lucinda Hutson ("The Herb Garden Cookbook" and "Tequila! Cooking With the Spirit of Mexico"). Hourly classes and workshops include topics on herb gardening, home design tips, organic growing tips, cooking with native plants and tomato gardening. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for seniors, military and students; and $5 for children ages 3 to 12 (plus $1 parking). The gardens are at 230 Quail Gardens Road. Call (760) 436-3036.

North County Food Bank benefit: Simply Ambrosia Tea & Coffee Bar in San Marcos presents "A Night of Music" at 7 p.m. Friday, featuring dessert, tea and coffee and live entertainment by Mo Fleming and Friends and the Harmonettes vocal trio. Tickets to the event, at 577 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Suite 106, in San Marcos, are $12.50. Call (760) 593-0350.

"Taste of the Nation": Share Our Strength's annual culinary tour of San Diego takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. April 13 at the Hotel Solamar. Among the high-end eateries offering tastings on Solamar's rooftop bar are the Rancho Bernardo Inn, Addison at the Grand Del Mar, Jade Theatre, Currant, Grant Grill, Stingaree, Blue Coral, Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy Hotel, Molly's Fine Dining, George's California Modern, Blanca and more. Hotel Solamar is at 435 Sixth Ave., San Diego. Tickets are $95; call (877) 26-Taste or visit www.tasteofthenation.org.

California Wine Festival: The annual celebration of California's wineries will be April 11 and 12 in downtown San Diego. Events include an evening reception, rare wine auction and reserve tastings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 11 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel; and the "Reds, Whites & Blues on the Bay" from noon to 4 p.m. April 12 at Embarcadero Marina Park North. Tickets are $125 ($100 in advance) for April 11 events and $85 ($75 in advance) for April 12. Visit www.californiawinefestival.com.

12th annual Meet the Chefs of Del Mar: Fifteen Del Mar-area chefs will prepare their signature dishes, and wine tastings and live and silent auctions will mark this poolside event to benefit Casa de Amparo from 1 to 4 p.m. April 27 at the Hilton Del Mar. Ticket sales are limited to 350 and the event usually sells out two weeks in advance, so early reservations are recommended. Call (760) 754-5500.

Gold Medallion Awards & Auction Dinner: The California Restaurant Association San Diego Chapter will hold its 24th annual dinner honoring San Diego's "best of the best" restaurateurs and raising money for scholarships that allow local high school students to attend San Diego's culinary arts programs. The black-tie gala will be from 5 to 9 p.m. April 30 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1 Market Place, San Diego. Call (619) 297-8200.

Cardiovascular Disease Foundation: Third annual Wine Tasting By the Sea & Silent Auction will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 6 at Carlsbad Seapoint Resort, 6400 Surfside Lane, Carlsbad. Tickets are $40. Register at www.cvdf.org or call (760) 730-1471.

Food news

North County Wine Company in San Marcos was named the Best Wine Store in ABC/KGTV Channel 10 News' A-List business competition. Owner James Allyn's 14-month-old store sells more than 400 wines from around the world and has a wine bar where 30 wines are sold by the glass or bottle. The store is at 1099 San Marcos Blvd. Call (760) 744-2119.

Quizno's toasted sandwich shops has introduced catering and delivery at its more than 50 San Diego County restaurants this week. Delivery is free with a minimum $8 order.

Styrofoam egg cartons cluttering your kitchen after Sunday's Easter Egg events? Eggology invites Southern California residents to mail in an empty egg carton and receive a coupon for a free Eggology product. All cartons will be recycled. Eggology sells certified organic, pasteurized liquid egg whites for cooking, as well as bakery products and ice cream made with egg whites. Mail your egg carton (one per household) to Shaina Zalma, Eggology, 9507 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. For more, visit www.eggology.com.

Kitty Morse, author of "The California Farm Cookbook" and "Edible Flowers: A Kitchen Companion," will be whipping up some recipes using farm-fresh produce at the Vista Farmers Market from 9 to 10:30 a.m. April 19. On the menu will be dishes made with flageolets (beans), Southern California dates, Moroccan preserved lemons and exotic baby greens. The market runs from 7:45 to 11 a.m. Saturdays on Eucalyptus Avenue at Escondido Avenue. For more, visit www.kittymorse.com.

Food trip

Ensenada wine country visit: MiraCosta College will host a Baja weekend getaway bus trip with a visit to the city of Ensenada and the burgeoning wine district in the Guadalupe Valley. The bus leaves at 8 a.m. April 5 from the MiraCosta College's Oceanside campus, 1 Barnard Drive, and return at 5 p.m. April 6 to the Oceanside campus. The excursion leaves from MiraCosta College and travels by luxury charter bus, heading first to the Ensenada wine country area, about 70 miles south of San Diego, where local wine guide and travel writer Steve Dryden will join the group. Dryden has a wealth of local and cultural knowledge, both about the area and the wines it produces. The group will lunch at Mustafa's, visit two wineries, dine at the Hotel Coral Resort, and visit Rosarito Beach. Cost is $244 double, per person. All rooms have ocean views with two queen beds; $55 single supplement. Cost includes bus, hotel, wine and tour, lunch and breakfast. Please note that this time may vary due to the border crossing procedure. Participants must carry U.S. picture ID and birth certificate, or passport; those under 16 must have a birth certificate. Call (760) 795-6820.

Specialty dinners

Firefly Grill & Wine Bar in Encinitas hosts its second annual Celebration of Artichokes dinner at 6 p.m. April 3, featuring Clos LaChance wines paired with an artichoke risotto fritter appetizer, braised lamb osso bucco with roasted artichokes and roasted pineapple and Jerusalem artichoke tart. Cost is $75. Firefly is at 251 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas. Reserve to (760) 635-1006.

Thornton Winery Mother's Day Buffet: The Temecula winery offers a champagne buffet on May 11. Tickets are $54.95 for adults and $24.95 for children. The winery is at 32575 Rancho California Road in Temecula. Call (951) 699-0099.

Classes

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

Today: Gourmet pizza and salad

Friday: Syrah, shiraz and all that jazz

Saturday: Light and sweet spring desserts

Tuesday: Martinis and a meal: Shaken and stirred

Wednesday: Fast and fabulous chicken breasts

April 3: Seasons finest

April 4: Taste of the tropics

April 5: Tweens cook Italian

April 8: Japanese cuisine 101

April 8: Meat and potatoes: The perfect pair

COOKING WITH KIDS: Denise Moors offers these Spring Break cooking classes for children age 5 and older. Class is limited to six students. Registration is $75 for a three-day workshop. Call (760) 724-3991, e-mail denisemoors@kidscooking.info or visit www.kidscooking.info/denisemoors.html:

10 a.m. April 7, 9, 11: Pastry Fun

1 p.m. April 7, 9, 11: See The World Through the Kitchen

1 p.m. April 14, 16, 18: Afternoon Snack Attack

CHANGE OF DATE: Want to learn the secrets of Morocco's exotic tagines? Visit a cooking demonstration/book signing with Kitty Morse, author of "Cooking at the Kasbah: Recipes From My Moroccan Kitchen," from noon-2 p.m. April 5 at the Le Creuset Company Store, Carlsbad Company Stores Mall, 5600 Paseo del Norte, Suite 125, Carlsbad. Call (760) 931-6868.

PERSIAN COOKING: The Carlsbad Recreation Department presents Persian cooking classes at the Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St., Carlsbad. Make a fancy Persian dinner in just one hour. Learn how to cook small and smart dinners that are healthy. Classes will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 3-4 p.m. April 17 and May 8. Cost per class is $55 resident, $65 non-resident. Register to (760) 602-7510 or visit www.CarlsbadConnect.org.

SATURDAY COOKING: The Carlsbad Recreation Department presents a series of two-hour adult cooking classes on Saturdays at the Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St., Carlsbad. Register to (760) 602-7510 or visit www.CarlsbadConnect.org:

10 a.m.-noon April 5, "Spring Dinner Tuscan Style": Creative ways to "Tuscanize" your main, vegetable and side dishes! Cost: $55 resident, $65 non-resident.

9:30-11:30 a.m. May 3, "Swimsuit Ready Dishes": This workshop will be semi-demo and semi-hands-on. Learn how to create snacks and dishes that will help your waistline, and learn tips for shopping, prepping and cooking with portion control, health and wellness in mind. Cost: $55 resident, $65 non-resident.

In the spirits

THE WINE SPOT: Hosts tastings from 3-9 p.m. Fridays, 1-9 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays at 2801 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad. House tastings anytime ($15). Call (760) 434-9463 or visit the-wine-spot.com.

Friday through Sunday: "April Fool's Blind Tasting": Test your wine knowledge of six major varietals, served with appetizers, $20.

WEEKLY TASTING: Wine Street Inc. hosts tastings from 3-7 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: Zinfandels & Zin-blends. $20.

WINE TASTING: Carlsbad Wine Merchants hosts tastings at 5 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays for a fee at 5814 Van Allen Way, Suite 155, Carlsbad. Call (888) 750-WINE or visit www.CarlsbadWineMerchants.com.

5 to 8 p.m. Friday: Harvest Festival of Wines from the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina); $20.

5 to 7 p.m. April 9-10 and May 14-15: April Wine Club Pick Up Party. Taste at least 25 wines from wine-of-the-month clubs. Fee is $10.

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

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.

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.

HARVEST RANCH TASTES: Harvest Ranch Market Del Mar now offers wine tastings from 5-7:30 p.m. plus appetizers for $10-$20. The store is at 1555 Camino Del Mar, Suite 203, Del Mar. Call (858) 847-0555.

Send information about local food products, food events or classes to Food Editor Pam Kragen, North County Times, 933 W. San Marcos Blvd., Building A, San Marcos, CA 92078; fax to (760) 731-0908, or e-mail to food@nctimes.com.

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