Local food and dining briefs for June 19 issue

By North County Times | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:59 PM PDT ∞

Arterra anniversary: To celebrate the one-year anniversary of its outdoor lounge, Arterra Restaurant will host a "First Taste of Summer" party from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The party, co-hosted by the San Diego Young Professionals Committee, will include samplings from Arterra's menu with wine pairings, an anniversary cocktail from Ketel One and a fashion show by Tatiana Boutique Del Mar. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Arterra is at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real in Del Mar. Call (858) 369-6032.

Kashtan anniversary: To celebrate "one year of success," Kashtan European Bistro in Carmel Valley will host its second annual neighborhood party from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, featuring Peroni beer, Han Vodka lemonade, fried pickles and piroshkis all for $1 each. Live music will be performed by One Thread and Kenny Eng and Ivan Cheong. Kashtan is in the Rancho Carmel Village Center at 12125 Alta Carmel Court. Call (858) 485-5856.

Craft Brewers Festival: Professional brewers from all over the U.S. will offer samples of their award-winning beers (judged last month) from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Del Mar Arena at the San Diego County Fair. A bratwurst competition is also featured along with live bluegrass music all day. A $15 wristband buys five beer or bratwurst tastings. Fair admission not included. For more, visit www.sdfair.com.

San Diego Restaurant Week: From Sunday through June 27, more than 130 San Diego County restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe menus for $30 to $40 (tax and tip not included). North County participants are Amaya, Firefly Grill & Winebar, Via Italia Trattoria, Blanca, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Pamplemousse Grille, Vigilicucci's Osteria, Paradise Grille, Wild Note Cafe, Sbicca Bistro-Del Mar, Savory Casual Fare, Pacifica Del Mar, Pacific Coast Grill, Firenze Trattoria, Epazote Oceanview Steakhouse, Chart House, BlueFire Grill, Arterra Restaurant, Americana, Zocala-Rancho Bernardo, Tango, Bernard O's, Vincent's, The Restaurant at Rancho Valencia, Delicias, Mille Fleurs, La Bastide Bistro, El Bizcocho, Cavaillon and 150 Grand Cafe. Visit www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com.

Famous Dave's BBQ Tour: Famous Dave's Barbecue Restaurant in Vista is offering a barbecue special through July 20 featuring three types of American regional barbecue on the same plate --- St. Louis-style spareribs, Georgia chopped pork and Texas beef brisket (finished with a slab of strawberry shortcake). Cost is $19.99. Famous Dave's is at 303 Vista Village Drive. Call (760) 726-7866.

"Sip & Savor" beer dinners: Savory Casual Fare in Encinitas hosts Sunday-evening beer suppers during June, featuring a four-course dinner paired with beers from Oregon, Scotland, Belgium, England and elsewhere. Dinners are from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday and June 29 at 267 El Camino Real in Encinitas. Cost is $75. Call (760) 634-5556.

Lavender Tea Class: Barbara Barker of Memories English Tea Garden in Vista will teach how to prepare and serve an afternoon tea at noon Saturday and June 28. Lesson includes an art show, lavender and Irish scones, Devonshire cream and chocolate truffles (recipes included) for $20. Seating limited to 15. For directions, call (760) 945-0476.

Wine & A Bite Art Walk: The Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau hosts its first wine and art event, featuring a walk through downtown Fallbrook, with food from three Fallbrook restaurants and a local winery, from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Buy $20 tickets at 123 W. Alvarado St. Call (877) 451-3282.

Summer Solstice wine dinner: Ponte Winery in Temecula marks the summer solstice with a multicourse menu paired with Ponte new releases, followed by stargazing through telescopes in the vineyard at 5 p.m. Sunday at 35053 Rancho California Road. Tickets are $115. Call (951) 694-8855 or visit pontewinery.com.

Taste of Adams Avenue: Twenty-three restaurants and bars in the North Park/Kensington area of San Diego will be featured from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20. To reserve, call (619) 282-7329.

Back Country Chili Cook-Off: Santa Ysabel Casino hosts its first chili competition with cash prizes up to $1,000. Contest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 at the 1-year-old casino at Highways 78 and 79. Entrance fee is $55. Call (760) 787-0909.

June Wine Dinner: A Taste of Florence in Escondido hosts a five-course dinner with wine pairings featuring local organically grown summer fruits and vegetables, at 5 p.m. June 29 at 340 E. Grand Ave. Tickets are $45. Call (760) 745-0691.

Chocolate and Wine Pairings Dinners: The Shores Restaurant in La Jolla hosts a series of specialty dinners in July. Executive chef Bernard Guillas and chef de cuisine Augie Saucedo have created a four-course menu where each food item has elements of chocolate, such as fennel pollen spiced barramundi, cervena venison loin in a chocolate shiraz sauce and more. Dinners are at 7 p.m. July 1, 5, 12, 19 and 26. The July 1 kickoff dinner includes a pre-dinner reception and is $65. All others are $55. The Shores is at 8110 Camino del Oro in La Jolla. Call (858) 456-0600.

Falkner Winery anniversary: The Temecula winery marks its eighth anniversary with a weekend of wine-tastings, tours, wine sales and live jazz music, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 4-6 at 40620 Calle Contento in Temecula. Call (951) 676-8231.

Dinner and a (fireworks) show: Hennessey's in Vista will cater a fundraising gourmet barbecue in the city's Brengle Terrace Park that will precede the park's annual fireworks display (the county's largest). Dinner will be served from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9 at 1200 Vale Terrace Drive in Vista. Tickets are $65 or $500 for a table of eight. Proceeds will benefit the cost of the fireworks display. Call (760) 726-1340, Ext. 1571.

Walking Wine Dinner: Brigantine Seafood Restaurant in Escondido hosts a "Taste of the Wild" dinner featuring Alaskan seafood from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 10 at 421 W. Felicita Ave., Escondido. Rather than a sit-down dinner, diners will walk to various stations set up in the dining room where the chefs from seven Brigantine restaurants will be preparing items to order such as black cod, salmon gravlax, prawn ceviche, pan-roasted sea scallops, halibut and Dungeness crab cake. Tickets are $60. Call (760) 743-4718.

Stress Reduction Tea Class: Barbara Barker of Memories English Tea Garden in Vista will teach how to prepare and serve an afternoon tea that reduces stress at noon July 12. Lesson includes an art show, scones, Devonshire cream, jams and tea savories (recipes included) for $10. For directions, call (760) 945-0476.

Beer & Sake Festival: More than 30 artisan sakes, a dozen premium beers and Japanese-inspired appetizers served by San Diego restaurants, including Asahi, Cafe Japengo, Jade Theatre and more, will be featured from 6 to 9 p.m. July 16 at the W San Diego Hotel at 421 W. B St. in San Diego. Tickets are $50. To order tickets, visit www.japan-society.org.

High Tea Class: Barbara Barker of Memories English Tea Garden in Vista will teach how to prepare and serve high tea savories (recipes included) at noon July 19. Admission is $20. For directions, call (760) 945-0476.

Sake & Sushi Dinner: La Costa Resort & Spa's BlueFire Grill hosts a pairings dinner featuring Junmai sakes from artisan brewers and sushi rolls and sashimi from 6 to 8 p.m. July 23. Cost is $70. The La Costa Resort is at 2100 Costa del Mar Road in Carlsbad. Call (760) 438-9111.

Tango wins award: Tango Restaurant & Wine Bar, 417 W. Grand Ave., Escondido, won "Best Californian" cuisine in a reader's poll of San Diego County restaurants on the Web site opentable.com. Tango also placed in the top three for "Best Food." Call (760) 747-5000 or visit www.tangoongrand.com. Rated as the Diner's Choice top 10 overall "Best Restaurants" are, in order from No. 1: Addison at the Grand Del Mar, Donovan's of La Jolla, Bertrand at Mr. A's, Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro, Island Prime, Mille Fleurs, West Steak and Seafood, Cavaillon Restaurant, Delicias and Market.

Pat & Oscar's makes a wish: With a goal of raising $50,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 19 Southern California Pat & Oscars restaurants are now offering three children's meals named after children who've been served by the foundation (which offers dying wishes to terminally ill children). For each order of Gigi's Pasta, Daniel's Wings or Kristen's Pizza (each priced at $4.99), 50 cents will be donated to the foundation through the end of 2008.

Top 10 family restaurants: In its July issue out this week, Parents Magazine named its readers' picks for the top 10 restaurants for families (many of them with outlets in San Diego County). No. 1 is Legal Sea Foods, followed by Souplantation, Mimi's Cafe, Uno Chicago Grill, Chili's Grill & Bar, Red Robin, Old Spaghetti Factory, P.F.Chang's China Bistro, Denny's and Claim Jumper. The restaurants were judged on such criteria as children's amenities (crayons at the table, changing tables in the bathroom) and healthy children's meal offerings.

Now Serving

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in San Diego's Mission Valley will introduce a seasonal menu Tuesday featuring eight new dishes designed to complement its new Kolsh-style ale, SommerGold. Selections include a shrimp and crab tower appetizer, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, garlic beef tenderloin and more. The menu will be offered through Aug. 3. Gordon Biersch is at 5010 Mission Center Road in San Diego. Call (619) 688-1120.

Mistral Restaurant in Coronado has introduced the "Spice Market" starter dish, which features a mashed potato, vegetable and small lamb chop, each seasoned with a different exotic spice. Vegetables and spices will change weekly to offer diners a spice tour of the Far and Middle East. Sample selections include potatoes with fleur de sel, spinach with Szechuan pepper and lamb chop with berbere. The Spice Market starter dish is offered from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays for $11. Mistral is at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort on the Silver Strand, Coronado. Call (619) 424-4000.

Harrah's Rincon Casino in Valley Center has created an "Amazing Race Around the World" international buffet in honor of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. During June, different national cuisines are featured on most weeknights. Mondays and Tuesdays feature dishes from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; Italian cuisine is offered on Wednesdays; and Thursdays are Latin nights. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. nightly. Cost is $17.99. Harrah's is at 777 Harrah's Rincon Way. Call (866) 468-3399.

Frankie's Steak and Seafood in Temecula has added Sunday lunch service, serving from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Frankie's, which opened last fall, is near the southeast corner of Ynez Road and Overland Drive. Call (951) 676-8040.

Roy's Restaurant has opened at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. The harborside restaurant is the 36th in the Honolulu-based chain founded 20 years ago by chef Roy Yamaguchi, known internationally as the founder of Hawaiian fusion cuisine and winner of the "Best Pacific Northwest Chef" award from the James Beard Foundation. Roy's menu blends the traditional flavors of Hawaii and the Pacific with contemporary styles and ingredients. Signature dishes include hibachi grilled Atlantic salmon, Szechwan spiced BBQ baby back pork ribs, Roy's "original" blackened island ahi and melting hot chocolate souffle. The restaurant, which seats 420, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 11 p.m. daily at 333 W. Harbor Drive. Call (619) 239-7697.

Classes:

Italian cooking: Art & Accents in La Costa's Ciao Italian Cooking Class series continues this summer with these classes at 7740-A El Camino Real. Classes are $25. Call (760) 943-8221.

-- 1 p.m. Thursday: Italian desserts: Gelato, lemon biscotti, vanilla/basil rice pudding

-- 6:30 p.m. Friday: Al Fresco Friday: Antipasti, cooking demos, vino.

-- 6:30 p.m. July 16 and 1 p.m. July 17: Grilled pizza

-- 6:30 p.m. July 23 and 1 p.m. July 24: Grill Italian: Florentine grilled meat and vegetable platter.

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:

-- Noon June 27: Learn-a-lunch ---- Casual entertaining

-- 6 p.m. June 27: The flavors of Cinque Terre

-- 6 p.m. June 30: An evening with Pacifica Restaurant

-- 11 a.m. July 1: My favorite simple summer fish recipes

-- 6 p.m. July 1: Backyard martinis and BBQ

-- 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. July 2: Hot off the grill

In the spirits

Carlsbad Wine Merchants: Hosted tastings at 5 p.m. Fridays and 4 to 7 p.m. Saturdays for a fee at 5814 Van Allen Way, Suite 155, Carlsbad. Call (888) 750-WINE or visit www.CarlsbadWineMerchants.com.

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

-- Friday through Sunday: Cabernet Sauvignons from around the world; $15.

-- June 27-29: Wines of South Africa; $15.

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

-- 6-8 p.m. Thursday: Stephan Asseo of L'Aventure Winery pouring award-winning wines from Paso Robles, $20.

-- 3-5 p.m. Saturday: Value-priced wines from Monterey's San Simeon Winery, $5.

-- 3-5 p.m. June 28: Jon McPherson of South Coast Winery in Temecula pours sparklers, chardonnay, syrah and other varietals, $10.

-- 5-7:30 p.m. June 28: Mt. People's Distribution offers a sampling of Northern California craft beers; $15.

-- 3-5 p.m. July 12: Bastille Day tasting of 2005 red and white Bordeauxs, $20.

-- 6-8 p.m. Aug. 1: Napa Valley winery tasting, $15.

Wine Street Inc.: Weekly 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. Coming up:

-- 4-7:30 p.m. Sunday: Best Blends; $20.

-- 4-7:30 p.m. June 27: Beat the Heat White & Rose Wines; $15.

-- 4-8 p.m. July 3: Zin-Dependence Tasting with Turley, Tobin James and more; $15.

ENO-Versity summer/spring schedule: ENO, a gourmet wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room that opened in December at the Hotel del Coronado, announces a series of tastings where wineries offer samples paired with products from national cheesemakers and chocolatiers. The tastings are from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturdays at the hotel. Tickets are $35. Call (800) HOTEL-DEL. Class schedule:

Saturday: Saxon Brown Wines, Jeff Gaffner, winemaker/owner.

July 12: Hill Family Estates, Doug and Ryan Hill, proprietors.

July 19: Pint Concepcion Vineyards, Peter Cargasacchi, owner and farmer.

July 26: Baxter Wines, Phil Baxter, winemaker/owner.

The North County Wine Company: Tastings daily at 1099 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, plus special events from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Call (760) 744-2119 or visit www.NorthCountyWineCompany.com.

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

Harvest Ranch Market Del Mar: 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, 207 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Escondido, CA 92025; fax to (760) 745-3769, or e-mail to food@nctimes.com.

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