Coffee Bean offers free tea latte: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will offer a free 12-ounce sample of its Over Ice Tea Latte beverage at all California stores from 2 to 6 p.m. March 5. The drink includes espresso-style tea whisked with vanilla flavoring and poured over ice. For locations, visit coffeebean.com.

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Lenten specials: Two fast-food chains have introduced seafood specials this week timed to the beginning of Lent (many Catholics give up red meat during the 40-day period, which began Wednesday). Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is offering the Seafood Tackle Box, eight marinated, butterfly shrimp with Cajun battered fries and a biscuit, for $4.99. Jack in the Box restaurants are offering two fish filet sandwiches for the combo price of $3.

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Temecu-latte: California Tea & Coffee Brewery in Temecula is offering a drink special during the first week of March. Bring in proof of purchase for any competitor's tea latte and receive $1 off any size hot or iced tea latte. Free hot tea of the day samples are also offered at the store in the Winchester Meadows Center, Winchester and Margarita roads, Temecula. Call (951) 693-5727.

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Rockin' Baja offers birthday bucket: To celebrate its 25th anniversary, San Diego-based Rockin Baja Coastal Cantina has rolled back the price on its signature menu item, the Big Baja Bucket for Two, to $29.99 for the rest of 2009. The bucket includes marinated carne asada, grilled chicken, seasoned shrimp and slipper lobster tails, served with all-you-can-eat beans, rice, flour tortillas and more. Rockin' Baja has locations in Oceanside, Old Town San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, Newport Beach and Montclair. Visit www.rockinbaja.com.

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Food events:

Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen Dinner: Loews Coronado Bay Resort has introduced a seasonal dinner series that allows guests to dine with the purveyors who produce, harvest and catch the ingredients for their meal. Each dinner will feature a different food. Brandt Beef will host the first dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. March 5 at Loew's Mistral. The cost is $48. The next event, on May 5, will feature micro- and petite greens and edible flowers from Fresh Farm. Call (619) 424-4000, Ext. 4475.

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Coeur de Cuisine: The Escondido Rotary Foundation hosts its sixth annual charity fundraiser, featuring cuisine and wine and beer pairings from up to 30 local restaurants and wine and beer purveyors, from 5 to 8 p.m. March 8 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. The black-tie gala will feature live and silent auctions, live music and free valet parking. Tickets are $125 for general admission, $250 for reserved seating and $300 for reserved seating and a special reception. Call (760) 445-1323 or visit coeurdecuisine.com.

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Savory hosts wine dinner: Savory Casual Fare in Encinitas will host a four-course wine dinner with foods to match the wines of Paraiso Vineyards at 6:30 p.m. March 12. Tickets are $65. Savory is at 267 El Camino Real in Encinitas. Call (760) 634-5556.

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Family Winemakers of California "Tasting 2009": More than 240 California wineries will participate in this trade and public event March 15 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The five-hour, one-day event will be reserved for wine buyers from 1 to 3 p.m., then open to the public from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Visit familywinemakers.org.

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Henry's strawberry festival: To celebrate strawberry season, Henry's Farmers Markets will host in-store strawberry-themed events daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 18-25. Fresh strawberries and related food items will be for sale, there will raffles, strawberry-decorating activities for children and live entertainment (from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 21). Visit henrysmarkets.com for locations.

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"Celebrate Sustainability Dinner": The Hotel del Coronado's 1500 Ocean Restaurant will host a "cooks confab" and dinner celebrating sustainable-farming practices at 6 p.m. March 24. Chefs from 1500 Ocean, Jsix, Stingaree, Waters Fine Catering, A.R. Valentien, Nine Ten, Ivy Hotel and Jack Fisher Confections will prepare appetizers and educate diners at food stations, with final courses served in the restaurant. ENO sommelier Ted Glennon will pair wine with courses. Cost is $85. Future dinners are scheduled for June 9 and Oct. 13. Call (619) 522-8490 or www.dine1500ocean.com.

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Mama's Kitchen Benefit Dinner: Dining Details personal chef service and Meritage Wine Market in San Diego will present a six-course wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. March 24 to raise money for Mama's Kitchen charity, which provides meal delivery to the ill and shut-ins. Cost is $150. Reserve to (619) 200-8977.

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"Taste of Uptown/Hillcrest": More than 40 restaurants in San Diego's Hillcrest and Uptown communities will participate in an urban food crawl from noon to 4 p.m. April 18. Diners will receive a map for their self-guided culinary tour of the community. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Call (619) 233-5008 or visit hillcrestbusinessassociation.com.

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Meet the Chefs of Del Mar: The 13th annual fundraiser for Casa de Amparo will feature poolside tastings from 15 top Del Mar restaurants from 1 to 4 p.m. April 26 at the Hilton Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Participants include Pamplemousse Grille, Sbicca, Addison, Silks, Red Tracton's, Pacifica Del Mar, Poseidon, Paradise Grille, Pacific Coast Grill, Americana, Epazote, Il Fornaio, Jake's Del Mar and others. Tickets are $100 (VIP tickets are $150). Call (760) 754-5500, Ext. 28.

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Dining Out for Life: Subaru's 19th annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser for HIV/AIDS will take place on April 30. More than 3,500 restaurants nationwide will donate a portion of sales that day toward HIV/AIDS programs within their community. In San Diego, more than 35 restaurants have signed up, and vow to donate up to 25 percent of the day's proceeds. For a list of participating local restaurants, visit: diningoutforlife.com/sandiego/participating.

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Taste of Adams Avenue: More than 30 restaurants will offer tastings at this self-guided culinary tour of the San Diego neighborhoods of Kensington, Normal Heights and North Park. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Call (619) 233-5008.

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SDSU wine courses: San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies is offering courses on the business of wine. Students must be at least 21 years old; call (619) 594-6924 or e-mail rbeard@mail.sdsu.edu. Courses:

- 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday: Dynamic Food and Wine Pairing -- Advanced Level Two; $225

- 6-9 p.m. Mondays, March 9-23: Red, White and Champagne; $295 ($325 after Monday)

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New farmers market: Old Town Temecula is getting a new addition -- an indoor farmers market called Delaney's Artisan Foods Market. Food vendors must grow, produce, cook or bake the food within a 100-mile radius and it must be preservative-free. The market is expecting about 350 vendors when it opens next month. The building is on 5th Street between Front and Mercedes streets. Go to www.delaneysartisanfoodsmarket.com.

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Wine dinners at the Del: The Hotel del Coronado's 1500 OCEAN restaurant and ENO, the wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room, are pairing for a series of "Connoisseur Series" wine dinners in a private dining room at 1500 OCEAN. ENO wine director Ted Glennon will host the event, which features wines and a five-course menu prepared by Chef de Cuisine Brian Sinnott. Dinners are limited to 24 people; call (619) 522-8490.

- 7 p.m. March 4: Willi Brundlmayer Winery; $85 per person

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Classes

The Kitchen Witch: The Encinitas school hosts cooking classes at 127 N. El Camino Real; call (760) 942-3288 or go to www.kitchenwitchonline.com:

- Noon Thursday: Learn a Lunch -- Tasty Italian Lunch; $34

- 6 p.m. Thursday: Sublime Seafood; $59

- Noon Friday: Learn a Lunch -- Mangia!; $34

- 6 p.m. Friday: Fab Friday -- Viva Argentina! Beef and Red Wine!; $59

- 11 a.m. Saturday: Breakfast -- The Most Important Meal of the Day; $49

- 11 a.m. Tuesday: Entertaining Made Simple; $59

- 6 p.m. Tuesday: Cooking Under Wraps; $59

- 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. Wednesday: Cooking with Wine; $69

- Noon March 5: Learn a Lunch -- Spring Fare; $34

- 6 p.m. March 5: Chinese Dinner Party; $59

- 6 p.m. March 6: Fab Friday -- Red, White and Delicious All Over; $59

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Children's cooking classes in Carlsbad: Captain Cook's Culinary Academy 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 cost from $25-$40 or $60-$100 for three. Captain Cook's is at 6986 El Camino Real, Suite C, in Carlsbad. Call (760) 431-2278 or go to www.captaincooksculinaryacademy.com. Upcoming:

- This week: "Asian-Inspired Cooking" -- crispy baked chicken wontons, Asian cucumber salad, candy sushi

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Captain Cook's adult classes: Captain Cook's Culinary Academy for Kids is also hosting adult cooking classes at 7 p.m. Thursdays this month. All classes in the "How to Boil Water" series are $45. Captain Cook's is at 6986 El Camino Real, Suite C, in Carlsbad. Call (760) 431-2278 or go to www.captaincooksculinaryacademy.com. Upcoming:

- Thursday: Basic and gourmet pizzas -- margherita, Hawaiian, garlic and Parmesan

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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 classes in cake decorating. Call (760) 744-0447 or rozsweetartstudio.com. Upcoming:

- Cake Design 1: This five-week class begins from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday. Fee is $125 plus $30 supplies.

- Fondant Cake Workshop: This two-week class runs from 1 to 3 p.m. March 7 and 14. Fee is $75 plus supplies.

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Macy's School of Cooking: The Mission Valley cooking school is hosting classes through the summer; prices vary. The school is in the Macy's Mission Valley Home Store, 1555 Camino de la Reina, San Diego. Call (888) 424-FOOD or go to macys.com/events and type 92108 in the ZIP code field:

- Noon March 7: 'The Food Nanny' Rescues Dinner with Liz Edmunds; $25

- Noon March 14: Eat Well: Sustainable Seafood with Dustin Anselm; $30

- Noon March 21: French-Mediterranean Cooking with Amy DiBlase; $15

- Noon March 28: Easter Celebration with Bernard Guillas; $10

- Noon April 4: Great Gatherings with Janet Burgess; $15

- Noon April 11: Eat Well: Sustainable Meats with Dustin Anselm; $30

- Noon April 18: Fresh and Local with Bernard Guillas; $10

- 11 a.m. July 13-17: Macy's Kids in the Kitchen with Janet Burgess; $175

- 11 a.m. July 27-31: Macy's Kids in the Kitchen with Janet Burgess; $175

- 11 a.m. Aug. 3-7: Macy's Teens in the Kitchen with five local chefs; $210

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Thornton Winery Spring Cooking Class: The Fallbrook Winery's executive chef Steve Pickell will demonstrate how to prepare several spring dishes including chilled carrot and ginger soup, parmesan-crusted halibut and mango mousse at 3 p.m. March 14. Cost is $70 and includes samples and recipes. Thornton is at 32575 Rancho California Road. Call (951) 699-0099.

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Hands-on Chocolate Class: Dallman Confections will host a two-part, make-your-own gourmet chocolates class from 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 and 22 at the Hotel del Coronado's ENO shop. The first class will teach how to make a ganache, infuse herbs and spices and how to decorate and dip chocolates. The second class will teach how to temper and mold chocolates, make caramel and other techniques. Class is $60 and limited to six. Register at (619) 808-1749.

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Culinary series at The Grand Del Mar: These monthly two-hour sessions take place all year, conducted by the resort's chefs. Classes are limited; call (858) 314-2000. The Grand Del Mar is at 5300 Grand Del Mar Court. Upcoming:

- 6:30 p.m. March 9: Vegetables: A Spring Fling -- Addison Executive Chef William Bradley shares recipes for Morel Mushrooms With Rosemary And Pine Nuts, Spring Pea Puree With Mascarpone And Olive Oil, and Fava Bean And Smoked Bacon Fricassee; at Addison; $95 per person

- 6:30 p.m. April 1: Brunch, Anyone? -- Executive Chef Jason McLeod will make Dungeness Crab Benedict, Egg White Frittata and Healthy Smoothies; at the resort kitchen; $95 per person

- 10 a.m. May 9: Just For Kids -- McLeod leads a hands-on session with Stuffed French Toast With Creme Fraiche And Marinated Figs with fresh-squeezed juices; at the resort kitchen; $75 for parent and child, $25 for an additional child (limit two children per adult)

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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.

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ENO-Versity at the Del: The Hotel del Coronado's wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room has classes coming up this month. All classes are from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and are $35 per person. Call (619) 522-8546 or go to hoteldel.com to reserve a spot. Upcoming:

- Saturday: Peter Cargasachhi, Santa Barbara winemaker

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Gaslamp Strip Club: The grill-your-own steakhouse and cocktail lounge in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter offers the Dirty Dozen drink menu with 12 new $5 happy hour cocktails, available from 5 to 7 p.m. daily and all night Sundays. It's at 340 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Call (619) 231-3140.

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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.

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Holiday Wine Cellar: Daily tastings from 5:30-7 p.m. at 302 W. Mission Ave., Escondido. Wine Down Mondays feature five wine tastes for $5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays and "Hop Over the Hump Wednesdays" are weekly beer-tasting event for $5. Call (760) 745-1200. Also coming up:

- 5:30 p.m. Saturday: Beer tasting -- Coronado Brewing Company; $15 presale, $20 at the door

- 5:30 p.m. March 5: Tricia Record of Levendi Winery of Napa Valley; $15

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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 to 8 p.m. Friday: R&R Wines Portfolio Tasting. $25.

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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. Wine tastings from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Tastings, from $5 to $10, come with charcuterie and cheese. Live music on Saturdays and outdoor patio dining. Vinz is at 201 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Call (760) 743-8466 or vinzwinebar.net.

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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 any time ($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.