Food and Dining Briefs for Dec. 11

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 11:05 PM PST ∞

Escondido's 150 Grand changes chefs: Oceanside resident Joseph J. Fernandez, a Boston-trained chef who teaches in the culinary program at Palomar College, is the new executive chef at the 150 Grand Cafe at 150 Grand Ave. in Escondido. Owner Mark Missler said that since Fernandez took over the kitchen three weeks ago, "He's been making the food even better, presenting the food better ... People will notice his consistency, quality and commitment to excellence." Missler's wife, Faith, who makes the restaurant's desserts, met Fernandez while taking baking classes at Palomar and he impressed them both with his background, cooking skills and banquet experience.

A 16-year food industry veteran, Fernandez began cooking in the Marine Corps, earned a culinary degree in Boston and has cooked for restaurants, hotels and retirement homes throughout North County, including the Four Seasons Resort Aviara and most recently the Silvergate retirement community in San Marcos. Fernandez's specialty is Italian cooking, and Missler said he's already introduced some California/Italian fusion dishes to the menu, including an herb-crusted rack of lamb, potato-crusted sea bass and a strudel appetizer made with prosciutto, asparagus and gruyere. Missler promises that the menu will retain all the most popular dishes, like the crab cakes, honey peppercorn salmon and braised short ribs. "People love those, so they'll stay on the menu, but he's making sure they're prepared perfectly," Missler said.

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S.D. Restaurant Week announced: San Diego Restaurant Week will return next month, with more than 130 restaurants signed up to offer prix-fixe meals Jan. 11 through 16. To lure diners hurt by the recession, a $20 menu level has been added to the regular options of $30 and $40 prix-fixe menus. Also this year, San Diego Restaurant Week is partnering with the Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council. Girl Scout cookies will show up in some of the week's menus, and some money raised through the dining program will benefit the Scouts organization. For the lineup of participating restaurants and their menus, visit sandiegorestaurantweek.com.

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New bar opens at Pala Casino: As part of the casino's $100 million expansion and remodeling campaign, the hotel has opened a new bar in the center of its casino floor. The Center Bar has its own lighting and sound system and a stage where live music will be offered. A specialty drinks menu is now in the works. Pala Casino is at 11154 Highway 76 in Pala.

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Hooters offers calendars for troops: Customers at local Hooters restaurants (in Rancho Bernardo and Oceanside) can purchase a 2009 Hooters calendar that will be shipped to U.S. troops overseas. Over the past three years, Hooters restaurants have shipped more than 60,000 calendars to troops overseas for the holidays. Visit hooters.com.

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Winery offers cigar pairings: Temecula's La Cereza Vineyard and Winery has partnered with Hemingway's cigar bar to introduce a line of private-label cigars that pair well with La Cereza wines. The La Cereza Cigar Co. will offer five premium cigars from several Caribbean countries that complement five new wine releases. Winery owner Buddy Linn said he and his winemakers Gus Vizgirda and Jim Swelgin spent a year finding the right blend of tobaccos to complement the new wines. They include the light-bodied Girlfriends (with tobacco from the Dominican Republic), the full-bodied Madura (with a Costa Rican wrapper), the Dominican Torpedo Presidente (with tobacco from five countries); the Madrid Light (a Honduran blend) and the Nicaraguan Triple Barber. La Cereza is at 34567 Rancho California Road. Call (951) 676-1711.

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Food events calendar

Grand Tequila & Scotch Tasting: Holiday Wine Cellars & La Tapatia Restaurant co-host a tasting of tequila and scotch portfolios from five large distributors, along with appetizers, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at La Tapatia, 340 W. Grand Ave., in Escondido. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. A $10 designated driver ticket includes appetizers and nonalcoholic beverages. Reserve to (760) 805-0875.

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Wine & A Bite Holiday Walk: A downtown Fallbrook arts and culinary crawl is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Seventeen downtown shops will be open, including 10 restaurants, offering tastings, tours and wine samples. Tickets are $10-$15. Call (877) 451-3282.

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Christmas teas in Julian: Julian Tea and Cottage, owned by Edie Segar, will host Victorian Christmas Teas daily through Dec. 23. Reserve to (866) 765-0832.

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Winter High Tide Breakfast Buffet: The Marine Room in La Jolla presents a series of gourmet buffets created by chef Bernard Guillas so diners can watch the seasonal high tides, from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Jan. 10-11 and Feb. 7-8 at 2000 Spindrift Drive. Cost is $32. Call (858) 459-7222.

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Breakfast with Santa: Santa Claus will host a family-style breakfast at the Harbor House restaurant in San Diego's Seaport Village from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 20 and 21. Program includes a full breakfast, photos with Santa, face-painting, balloon artists, children's entertainment and goodie bags. Cost is $25. Call (619) 235-4014, Ext. 3.

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New menus

Souplantation goes cran-crazy this month: San Diego-based Souplantation Restaurants has partnered with the U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee to add dishes incorporating cranberries during December. Besides offering dishes such as cranberry apple cobbler, chipotle cranberry orange vinaigrette dressing, cranberry crush green tea and more, the restaurants will feature brochures and other materials from the association that highlight the berries' healthful qualities.

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Twenty/20 introduces specialty tastings nights: Carlsbad's Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar is introducing two winter specialty menus this month. One is the Tastes of San Sebastian menu (served on Thursdays only in the bar), offering $5 wine specials and small plate Crudo Bar items priced from $2 to $10, including Spanish-themed La Luna and Stellar Bay oysters, Brandt Farms rib eye and Serrano ham, big eye tuna and hamachi, and more. And beginning Friday, a new weekly two-course ($20) or four-course ($40) tasting menu will be available from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays in both the bar and restaurant. The menu will change weekly. Twenty/20 is at the Sheraton Grand Pacific Hotel, 5480 Grand Pacific St., Carlsbad. Call (760) 827-2500.

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Friars Folly Wine Cellar & Gourmet Deli: Chef Bill Pinnone has introduced 12 authentic Spanish dishes at the San Marcos wine cafe: seven tapas items, priced from $5 to $12, and five entree-sized items ($18-$22). The menu includes bruschetta, tapenade, garbanzos con tostados (chickpea puree with crisp bread), brandada (roasted garlic and salt cod puree), pincho morunos (Moorish lamb skewers with rice and vegetables), paella and more. Friars Folly is at 1032 W. San Marcos Blvd., No. 19. Call (760) 736-8035.

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Zenbu Sushi Bar offers happy hour specials: This Japanese seafood restaurant in La Jolla is offering new low-priced happy hour food specials from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturday and all night Sundays and Mondays. Specials include oyster shooters, fresh-catch grilled skewers, calamari appetizers and the Zenbu Dynamite Roll, among others. Zenbu is at 7660 Faye Ave., Suite 1a. Call (619) 225-7069.

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Gluten-free at Sammy's: Sammy's Woodfired Pizza is now offering gluten-free crusts on all of its gourmet pizzas for customers who are wheat-intolerant. The restaurants are also offering a whole-wheat crust alternative. See sammyspizza.com.

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Lobster season at the Marine Room: The La Jolla restaurant is now offering a three-course lobster-themed prix-fixe menu from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday nights for $40. Diners have their choice of three lobster entrees. Wine pairings are $15 extra. Marine Room is at 2000 Spindrift Drive. Call (858) 459-7222.

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Classes

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 through Jan. 15 at La Costa Canyon High School on Camino de los Coches Road in Carlsbad. Course fee is $130. Call (760) 753-7073.

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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. Coming up:

-- Monday and Wednesday: Cookies, Cookies and More Cookies

-- Dec. 20: Parents Morning Out (kids bake while parents shop)

-- Dec. 22: Holiday Mini Camp

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Ro Z's Sweet Art Studio: Rosanne Zinniger's new cake decorating shop and studio at 277 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos, offers these classes. Call (760) 744-0447 or rozsweetartstudio.com.

-- 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday: Gingerbread House Decorating Class. $20 for one child/one adult.

-- 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday: Truffles, Cake Balls and Candy Cluster workshop. $30 (includes materials).

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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. Coming up:

-- 5-7 p.m. Thursday: Wine club pickup party.

-- Friday: Top Shelf Tasting.

-- Dec. 19-20: Old-fashioned country Christmas party and wine tasting.

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ENO: ENO, a gourmet wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room at the Hotel del Coronado, hosts a wine tasting with Hill Family Estates' Doug and Ryan Hill from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets are $35. Call (619) 522-8546.

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:

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

-- 6-8 p.m. Dec. 17: Chile's Casa Lapostolle Winery. $20-$25.

-- Dec. 18: Alesmith microbrewery tasting. $15-$20.

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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:

-- 5-8 p.m. Friday: Torrey Wines portfolio tasting. $10

-- 5-8 p.m. Saturday: Magdalena Vineyards portfolio tasting. $10.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.