Meals-On-Wheels Greater San Diego Inc. hosts "Dine With the Chefs … So No Senior Goes Hungry" from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Enjoy tastes from dishes prepared by members of the Chefs de Cuisine, a local organization of chefs and food purveyors that take part in nonprofit events. Cost is $125. Funds raised will provide home-delivered meals for seniors throughout San Diego County. Reserve to (619) 260-6110 or online at www.meals-on-wheels.org.

New products

FIBER FUN: Fiber One Chewy Bars are high-fiber snack bars from General Mills. Oats & Chocolate and Oats & Peanut Butter have 9 grams of fiber, about 150 calories each, and about 4 grams of fat. Each seven-ounce package of five bars costs about $2.90.

Now open

CHIPOTLE COMING: Chipotle Mexican Grill hosts a two-day opening in Poway with free burrito or bols from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. today. The celebration continues from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday with free T-shirts to the first 200 customers and a drawing to win free burritos for a year. The restaurant is at 13495 Poway Road in the Creekside Plaza near Community Road.

FRESH DINING: Fresh Dining provides healthful, calorie-controlled, nutritionally balanced meals delivered to your door from its base in San Diego. Each day's meals are delivered before 6 a.m. Visit www.freshdining.com for sample menus, or call (877) 89-FRESH.

ENTREES MADE EASY: Entrees Made Easy, a meal assembly service, has opened at 15817 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 102, Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch. Customers can create several family-size entrees in just two hours for about $3.50 per serving. They leave the cleanup to the Entrees Made Easy staff. Meals come in two sizes, full-order (four to six people) or half-order (two to three people). Ingredients are pre-chopped, simmered, sauteed, and ready to go. Entrees are then taken home to freeze, and can be grilled, sauteed, or slow-cooked at the customer's leisure. Menus change monthly. Contact owners Ellen Cooper and her son, Nolan Cooper, at 4-sranch@entreesmadeeasy.com or call (858) 487-EASY (3279).

Good causes

TASTE OF CARLSBAD: The Carlsbad Educational Foundation hosts the 11th annual Taste of Carlsbad from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 22 to benefit arts programs in the Carlsbad Unified School District. The event is teamed with ArtSplash, which includes dozens of sidewalk chalk painters as well as booths offering fine art and art-related activities for the kids. It all takes place on Armada Drive between Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road. Among restaurants participating are Blenz, Carlsbad Gourmet, Dario's, El Camino Real Grille, El Puerto Mexican & Seafood, Fresco Trattoria & Bar, Garcia's Mexican Restaurant, Jamroc Caribbbean Grill, King's Fish House, Knockout Pizzeria, Lola's Mexican Market, Mimi's CafÈ, Olive Garden, Pat & Oscars, Pelly's Pollos Maria, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Spoon's, Top of the Bagel, Tri-City Medical Center and Tuscany Ristorante. For tickets, call (760) 929-1555.

Events

NEW ZEALAND WINES: Paradise Grille in Del Mar hosts a four-course dinner featuring Kathy Lynskey Wines of New Zealand at 6 p.m. Sept. 26. Guests will meet Lynskey and learn about optimal wine pairings. Seating is limited. Cost is $99 per person. Reserve to (858) 350-0808. Paradise Grille is in the Flower Hill Promenade at 2690 Via de la Valle.

BEER VS. WINE: El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn offers a six-course "Beer vs. Wine" dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Each course will be paired with wines chosen by sommelier Barry Wiss and beers chosen by Stone Brewing Company CEO Greg Koch. Cost is $125 per person. Reserve to (858) 675-8550.

DINNER WITH BATTISTA: Robbie's restaurant hosts "Dinner With Battista," a four-course dinner paired with wines and the music of Michael Battista. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the restaurant, 530 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Cost is $85 per person. Reserve to (760) 634-2365.

Classes

SUSHI STUDIES: Palomar College Community Development offers "The Sushi Making Series" taught by Mineko Moreno, co-author of "Sushi for Dummies." Classes are from 1-4:30 p.m. and cost $65 plus $25 materials fee. Register for all three and get 10 percent off. Register to venture.recware.com or call (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2702. The schedule:

• Beginning Sushi Making, Sept. 23.

• Sushi Bar Favorites, Oct. 7.

• Holiday Sushi Party, Nov. 4.

WINE TIME: Palomar College Community Development offers "Wine Tasting 101- Wine Appreciation" taught by Bruno Cumar. Classes are from 7-9 p.m. four Mondays, Oct. 8-29. Cost is $99 plus $25 fee. Bring two wine glasses. Register to venture.recware.com or call (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2702.

CANCER PREVENTION, SURVIVAL: The Cancer Project offers a free Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Course from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays at Jimbo's … Naturally!, 1633 S. Center City Pkwy., Escondido. Register to (858) 793-7755, Ext. 114. Learn more at www.CancerProject.org or call (202) 244-5038. The schedule:

Today: Fueling Up on Low-Fat Foods

Sept. 20: Favoring Fiber

Sept. 27: Discovering Dairy Alternatives

Oct. 4: Replacing Meat

Oct. 11: Planning Healthy Meals

Oct. 18: Antioxidants and Phytochemicals

Oct. 25: Immune-Boosting Foods

Nov. 1: Maintaining a Healthy Weight

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

Saturday: Just for Kids - Dip It! Dunk It! Eat It!

Tuesday or Wednesday: 30-Minute Entrees

Wednesday: Just Because You're Special

Sept. 20: Delicious Dining on the Deck

ESCONDIDO ADULT SCHOOL: These courses and more are offered through Escondido Adult School. Register to (760) 739-7300 or visit www.escondidoadultschool-rop.org:

6-9 p.m. Nov. 13: Thanksgiving Made Easy! $10 plus $30 food fee.

6-9 p.m. Dec. 19: Holiday Deserts, $10 plus $30 food fee.

In the spirits

WEEKLY TASTING: Wine Street Inc. hosts tastings from 5:30-8 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: Friday Night Wine Flight, $15.

Sept. 21: Friday Night Wine Flight, $15.

Sept. 28: Friday Night Wine Flight, $15.

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

Tonight: What Is It? Interesting Red Varietals, $18.

Sept. 20: Taste of South Africa, $18.

Sept. 21: Around the World Beer Tasting, $15.

Sept. 27: Harvest Celebration Tasting, $18.

Oct. 4: Don't Forget Dessert! $20.

Oct. 11: Wine and Food Pairing Class, $25.

Oct. 18: French Champagne Tasting, $35.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 19: Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, $15.

Oct. 25: Halloween Tasting/Deep, Dark, Scary Varietals, $18.

Oct. 27: Taste of Argentina, $18.

Nov. 1: Holiday Port Tasting, $25.

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

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.

5-8 p.m. Friday: Big one-year anniversary party! Call for details.

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.

Chain news

TACO TALK: El Pollo Loco announces two new tacos, crunchy and soft, both with flame-grilled chicken. Crunchy tacos have flame-grilled chicken topped with crisp lettuce and shredded cheese; soft tacos start with a flour tortilla filled with flame-grilled chicken and topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, Cotija cheese and fresh Pico de Gallo.

CHICKEN BITE: 7-Eleven Inc. introduces the Chicken Bite, a chicken tenderlike product shaped like a hot dog. Priced at $1.69, the Chicken Bite is 7-Eleven's first entry into the hot chicken sandwich market and can be found on the 7-Eleven roller grill. The 3.3-ounce Chicken Bite is made with 100 percent white meat breaded with Southern-style seasonings and spices, and costs $1.69.

- Send information about local food products, food events or classes to Food Editor, North County Times, 207 E. Pennsylvania, Escondido, CA 92025, fax to (760) 745-3769, or e-mail to features@nctimes.com.