Food and Dining Briefs for Nov. 27

By North County Times | Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:40 PM PST ∞

Carmel Valley chef wins cook-off: Talk about making a "Grand" entrance. Just a month after opening Crescent Heights Kitchen & Lounge in downtown San Diego with his wife, Mariah, Carmel Valley resident David McIntyre was named "Chef of the Fest" at the San Diego Bay Food & Wine Festival's Grand Tasting Event on Nov. 15. The cooking contest involved 60 of the county's top chefs creating signature dishes for a national panel of judges. McIntyre won for his Chino Farms Baby Beet and Burrata Salad, a fresh twist on traditional caprese salad. A protegee of Wolfgang Puck, McIntyre said the beet salad has become the most popular starter on his menu, and he thinks it got the edge with the judges because it was light and refreshing. "It was such a hot day and all the other chefs were making these heavy beef and meat dishes. I think this was just different and the timing was right," McIntyre said. The 86-seat Crescent Heights is at 655 W. Broadway in San Diego's financial district. The McIntyres have recently introduced a $40 prix-fixe, three-course dinner on Mondays. Call (619) 450-6450.

---

Cafe branches out: Cafe 56, a sister of the original Centre City Cafe in Escondido, has opened at 13211 Black Mountain Road in Rancho Penasquitos. If you're familiar with the CCC, or its siblings, the Lakeside Cafe in Lakeside and the Lake Murray Cafe in La Mesa, you know they are all about comfort food and all-American favorites ---- including hot beef, meatloaf and turkey sandwiches, meatloaf, Hungarian goulash and stuffed cabbage. OK, so they have a few ethnic offerings. But they also have veggie specials, Southwestern specials (Pork Chops Vera Cruz, anyone?), not to mention daily specials and early bird meals. Also, chicken, seafood and steak dinners, and of course, breakfast in all its variations ---- at any time of day. How about a Jack of Hearts Omelet ---- with artichoke hearts, jack cheese, bacon and sour cream? Not to mention pie for dessert. Call (858) 484-5789.

---

Addison honored: Addison restaurant at the Grand Del Mar resort in Carmel Valley has earned a Five Diamond rating from the Automobile Association of America. The two-year-old, $30 million restaurant has earned dining honors from Esquire magazine and a three-star review in the Los Angeles Times. IT is the only restaurant in San Diego County to have achieved the honor.

---

Food events calendar:

Florentine summer supper: Escondido's A Taste of Florence hosts a five-course "summer feast" with wine pairings for each course at 5 p.m. Sunday and on the last Sunday of each month at 340 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Cost is $45. Call (760) 745-0691.

---

Dream Dinners open house: The San Marcos branch of this meal preparation business invites the public to come in and prepare a free three-serving meal for take-home preparation from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at 1641 Grand Ave., Suite 102, San Marcos. RSVP required to (760) 741-0055.

---

Pizza Port's Strong Ale Festival: The Carlsbad microbrewery/restaurant hosts its 12th annual festival celebrating nearly 75 hand-selected beers from 4 to 11 p.m. Dec. 5 and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 6 at 571 Carlsbad Village Drive. Admission is $12, which entitles ticket-holder to 8 taster tickets and a commemorative glass ($1 for each additional 4-ounce taste). A special VIP tasting event, with 25 additional taps, runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5, is $40. Advance tickets are on sale at (760) 720-7007.

---

"Babette's Feast" film and dinner: Oceanside Museum of Art's Culinary Cinema Series continues Dec. 6 with a screening of the Oscar-winning 1998 French film about a housekeeper's grand dinner for a guest, followed by a catered French dinner (with haricots verts salad, coq au vin and dessert mousse) prepared by Carol Blomstrom at the Museum, 704 Pier View Way. Pre-film reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $60 for museum members, $75 for nonmembers. Attendance is limited to 100. Reserve to (760) 435-3721.

---

Winter High Tide Breakfast Buffet: The Marine Room in La Jolla presents a series of gourmet buffets created by chef Bernard Guillas from 7 to 10 a.m. Dec. 13-14, Jan. 10-11 and Feb. 7-8 at 2000 Spindrift Drive. Cost is $32. Call (858) 459-7222.

---

New menus

Cafe Sevilla revamps menu: Cafe Sevilla, which specializes in Spanish cuisine, has revamped its menu to convert its regular entrees into lower-priced "gran tapas," or small-plate servings, starting at $5. The restaurant also has added items that delve deeper into the cuisine of Spain, including Imported Jamon Iberico ($23), Green Mussels Escabeche ($15.50) and Pulpo a la Gallega ($8). Cafe Sevilla has locations in downtown San Diego, Long Beach and Riverside. Visit cafesevilla.com.

---

Tamales are back: El Pollo Loco Restaurants have brought back their seasonal tamale dishes in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Now through Jan. 1, the fast-food restaurants will be offering a traditional tamale plate and a tamale bowl, with tamales and chile sauce served over rice and beans. Tamales can also be bought in bulk for take-out, with three-packs for $5. Visit elpolloloco.com for locations.

---

Sbicca Bistro offers seasonal menu: To spice up the holidays, the Del Mar restaurant has introduced dishes that put a new twist on traditional festive fare, including pecan-roasted maple leaf duck breast, maple-roasted pork prime rib, grilled Meyer's flatiron steak and an avocado wild mushroom melt sandwich. Sbicca is at 215 15th St., Del Mar. Call (858) 481-1001.

---

Classes

Bernard Guillas cooking demo lunch: The Marine Room chef will host a 90-minute cooking demonstration on preparing a holiday lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Guillas will show how to prepare blue D'Auvergne grape truffles, fig and hazelnut tapenade crostini, Florida stone crab-stuffed cherry tomatoes, lemon-lime avocado beignets and shrimp and Andouille sausage lollipops. The fee is $75 and includes class and lunch (beverages, tax and tip are extra). The Marine Room is at 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla. Register to (858) 459-7222.

---

Light and Healthful Cooking: Chef Jenn, a certified culinary nutritionist, is offering a four-week class on preparing low-calorie lunches and healthful comfort foods from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, now running through Dec. 4, and again from Dec. 11 to Jan. 15 at La Costa Canyon High School on Camino de los Coches Road in Carlsbad. Course fee is $130. Call (760) 753-7073.

---

Children's cooking classes in Carlsbad: Captain Cook's Culinary for Kids hosts weekly cooking classes for children with a new, all-organic menu every week: "Mommy and Me" (ages 3 to 5) from 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; "Lil Explorers" (ages 4-6) from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Thursdays; and "First Mates" (ages 6 to 14), 3:30-5 p.m. Mondays or Wednesdays. Classes range from $25-$40 each or $60-$100 for three. Captain Cook's is at 6986 El Camino Real, Suite C, in Carlsbad. Call (760) 431-2278.

---

In the spirits

Carlsbad Wine Merchants: Hosts 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.

---

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.

---

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

-- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday: Port wines from Fonseca and Taylor Fladgate. $20-$25.

-- 8 p.m. Dec. 11: Jarvis Winery tasting. $20-$25.

---

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. Upcoming:

-- Saturday: Big Dog Cabernets. Five for $20.

---

T&H Prime Meats & Sausage: The shop now offers tastings from 10 San Diego wineries from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays for $5, which includes four tastes and a San Diego Vintners Association souvenir wine glass, at 735 E. Mission Road, San Marcos. Call (760) 471-9192.

---

Vinz Wine Bar: Full restaurant menu with wide wine menu by the glass or bottle. Live music on Saturdays and outdoor patio dining. Vinz is at 201 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Call (760) 743-8466.

---

The Wine Spot: Hosts tastings from 2-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; noon-9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays at 2801 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad. Six tastings and an appetizer ($20). House tastings anytime ($15). Call (760) 434-9463 or visit the-wine-spot.com.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.