News, announcements and events:
New products
DEVILISH DEVELOPMENT: SnackWell’s Cookie Cakes introducesChocolate Mint and Black Forest flavors. Each serving has 50calories and 1/2 gram of fat, with low sodium and no cholesterol.SnackWell’s Cookie Cakes are available in 6.75-ounce boxes at asuggested retailprice of $2.59.
Good causes
BAJA FOR BOOKS: On Friday, dining at Baja Fresh in Escondidowill benefit Escondido Public Library Literacy Services. Bring inyour Escondido library card, your Barnes & Noble card ormention the library between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., and 15 percent ofthe cost of your order will be donated to the library. Therestaurant is at 890 W. Valley Parkway. Call (760) 480-9997.
GRANDE GIVING: If you order a La Salsa Fresh Mexican GrillGrandeTray from now through May 5, the company will make a donationto Dream Foundation, a Santa-Barbara-based nonprofit that fulfillsthe final wishes of terminally ill adults.
GrandeTrays feed up to eight adults and can be prepared with aslittle as 30 minutes’ advance notice. Items range from $19.95 to$34.95 and are available as Taquito GrandeTrays, Taco GrandeTraysand Burrito GrandeTrays. Visit www.lasalsa.com for a list oflocations and phone numbers. Learn more about Dream Foundation atwww.dreamfoundation.org.
FOOD FEST: The Bonsall Rotary Club’s 10th annual Wine & FoodFestival will take place May 20 at the California Center for theArts in Escondido. The event will feature more than 150 wineriesoffering fine and premier wine tasting and free dishes and horsd’oeuvres prepared by several local restaurants and foodconcessions. The evening will include music and dancing. AuntKizzy’z Boyz will be the featured blues band. The Bonsall RotaryClub also will conduct a huge silent auction offering a broad arrayof items ranging from trips to fine art. Proceeds from the eventare used to support local and international charities. Guests mustbe 21 years or older. Tickets are $65. Reserve to (800) 456-4465 ororder online at www.bonsallrotary.org.
Events
GUEST CHEF: Shawn McClain of Spring Restaurant in Chicago hostsa guest chef dinner at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn at 6p.m. May 12. Cost is $110 for the five-course tasting menu and winepairings. Reserve to (858) 675-8550.
JIMBO’S SEMINARS: Jimbo’sÖNaturally! presents “Healthy Bones& Joints Ö Naturally!” a free seminar by Valerie Hall, at 6:30p.m. May 19 at the Carmel Valley store (858-793-7755); at 6:30 p.m.May 25 in the Carlsbad store (760-334-7755), and at 6:30 p.m. May31 in the Escondido store (760-489-7755). Reservationsrequired.
CHEESE TASTINGS: The Aniata Cheese Company, Flower Hill Mall,2710 Via de la Valle, #B-138, Del Mar, offers these tastings from2-4 p.m. Saturdays. Reserve to (858) 847-9616. Cost is $8 (free forAniata Club Members):
“Get Your Goat,” all different styles of goat cheeses,Saturday.
“Ladies Only, but Men are Welcome” a tasting of cheeses onlyfrom women cheese makers, May 7.
“Let’s Go on a Picnic!” our favorite cheeses, meats, andaccompaniments for a fun, simple picnic, May 21.
“All American Artisanal Cheeses,” America’s best artisanalcheeses, June 11.
“Firm & Friendly,” firm cheeses with a lot of character andtaste, June 25.
Mother’s Day
Aqua Terra, Pala Mesa Resort, Fallbrook: Brunch from 10 a.m.-3p.m. Cost is $46.95 adults, $16.95 ages 6-12, under 5 free. Reserveto (760) 731-6805.
Escondido Country Club: Champagne brunch from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m..$21.99 for adults, $10.99 ages 4-10. Reserve to (760) 743-3301.
Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego: Brunch in the Bernardo Ballroomfrom 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. is $48 adults, $20 for ages 5-13. In ElBizcocho, brunch runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for $54 adults, $20 ages5-13. Reserve to (858) 675-8550.
Souplantation, Del Mar: Exclusive “Sunday Morning Menu” from 9a.m. until noon with regular buffet selections, plus Zucchini orLorraine Egg Frittata; Belgian waffles; French toast with fruittopping; Potatoes O’Brien; Brunch Focaccia; Brunch Pasta; Tom’sCountry Gravy With Biscuits; and Homemade Cinnamon Chip Biscuitswith Butter Cream Glaze. Cost is $6.99 for adults and children, andis all-you-care-to-eat. The new weekend menu is planned for futureintroduction at the rest of the chain’s eateries.
Cafe Champagne, Thornton Winery, Temecula: Served at noon;adults, $44.95; 12 and under, $18.95. Reserve to (951)699-0099.
In the spirits
FLOATING FEST: The second annual San Diego County WinemakersFestival will be held from 1-5 p.m. Sunday aboard the ferry boatBerkeley at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Taste wine, enjoyfoods and a silent and live auction. Hosted by the Torrey PinesRotary Club and the Maritime Museum, this year’s event will benefitthe Maritime Museum At Risk Youth Sail Training Program and theTorrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club Community Service Program. Freeentrance to the Maritime Museum of San Diego and half priceentrance to all other ships. Buy tickets atwww.TorreyPinesRotary.org/wine or call (858) 583-0070. Cost is $49adults, and $10 children under 12.
QUPE DINNER: Qupe wines are the featured selections at MeritageRestaurant’s Spring Winemaker Dinner at 6:30 p.m. May 10. Qupe willpresent five pourings to accompany a creative five-course mealprepared by Meritage’s chef/owner Susan Sbicca. Bob Linquist,founder and winemaker of Qupe Wine Cellars, will be on hand. Costis $70. Reserve to (760) 634-3350. Meritage is at 897 S. CoastHighway 101, Encinitas.
WINEMAKER DINNERS: Pacifica Del Mar hosts a five-course winedinner at 6:30 p.m. May 18 with Ferrari-Carano representativeMichael D. Hurst. Cost is $75. Reserve to (858) 792-0476.
WEEKLY TASTING: Wine Street Inc. hosts tastings from 5:30-8 p.m.Fridays. Appetizers to match the wines are served. Wine Street isat 6986 El Camino Real, Suite D, in Carlsbad. Cost is $20 unlessotherwise noted. Call (760) 431-8455 or visitwww.winestreet.com:
Friday: Caravan, O’Shaughnessy, Edge and other rising stars.
May 6: A Night of Duckhorn Vineyards, $25.
May 13: A Taste of Italy with Ralph Gillotti.
May 20: The Great Wines of Chile & Argentina with empanadasand South American wine expert David Roth.
BARREL TASTING: The “Big Red Weekend” will be from 10 a.m.-4:30p.m. May 14-15, hosted by the Temecula Valley WinegrowersAssociation. Cost is $75 to visit 20 Temecula Valley wineries andmeet winemakers. Designated driver tickets are $50. Reserve to(800) 801-WINE or visit www.temeculawines.org.
WINE DINNER: “Taste of Temecula” offers four courses and winesfrom three winemakers —— Falkner, Stuart Cellars and Thornton —— at7 p.m. May 20. Cost is $65. Reserve to (951) 699-0099.
WINERY TOURS: Belle Marie Winery hosts free champagne tours at 1and 3 p.m. every Saturday. Tasting available. The winery is at26312 Mesa Rock Road, Escondido. Contact (760) 796-7557.
WINE TASTING: Wild Note Cafe hosts Wine Wednesday tastingsmonthly. Call (858) 259-7310 for cost and schedule.
Classes
CCAE COOKERY: The California Center for the Arts, Escondidopartners with Culinary Adventures Extraordinaire to present “ExoticSpringtime Flavors” from 6-9 p.m. in the conference center with Topof the Cove Executive Chef Timothy A. Ralphs. Tickets are $55 fornon-members and $50 for center members and can be purchased at theticket center office, (800) 988-4253.
KITCHEN WITCH: These classes and more are offered at the KitchenWitch Gourmet Shop & Cooking School, 127 N. El Camino Real,Suite D, Encinitas. Price is $44 unless otherwise noted. Call (760)942-3228 or visit www.kitchenwitchonline.com:
Cinco de Mayo, May 4
Endless Salmon, May 5
Just Back From Thailand, May 5
Mother’s Day Brunch, May 6
Spanish Grill, May 6
Gourmet Cooking for the Home, May 10
East Meets West, May 10
Hearty Main Dish Salads, May 11
AT PECHANGA: Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula offers thesecooking classes at 11:30 a.m. in Hummingbird Hall. Tickets are$37.50 per class or $125 for all four. Call (877) 711-2WIN:
Nuevo Cinco (Latin cuisine), May 14
Backyard Aromas (barbecue, smoking), June 11
Summer Harvest (fruits, vegetables and summertime meats), July16
Open Ocean Game and Tropical Treats, Aug. 13
AT SUR LA TABLE: These classes and more are offered at Sur LaTable, Carlsbad. Classes are $55 unless otherwise noted. Registerto (760) 635-1316 or visit surlatable.com:
Spring Do-Ahead Dinner Party With A Mediterranean Flair, $60,Wednesday.
International Odyssey of Comfort Foods, $65, April 28.
Taste of India, Tuesday.
Cinco de Mayo Party! $65, May 5.
Mother’s Day Treats, $40 (kids), May 6.
From the Japengo Kitchen, $60, May 10.
Light Spring Supper, May 11.
How to Boil Water No. 1: Stocks and Soups, $70, May 12.
Cooking With Friends, May 16, $70.
South of the Border, free, May 18
How to Boil Water No. 2: Sauces for Meat and Pasta, $70, May19.
After-School Club: Pasta Making, $40, May 20.
Two Easy Menus and Desserts, $65, May 24.
Casual Mediterranean Sunday Supper, $50, May 25.
How to Boil Water No. 3: Method Cooking, $70, May 26.
Getting to Yum: Secrets for Building Healthful Meals With GreatTaste, $45, May 31.
Chain news
PANDA GOES GARLIC: Panda Express offers the Panda Chefs GoGarlic, a promotion featuring four garlicky entrees from nowthrough June 11. Chicken Breast In Garlic Black Bean Sauce will beserved throughout, with Shrimp With Sugar Peas In Garlic Sauce(served through April 16), Spicy Garlic Beef (April 17-May 14), andShrimp With Asparagus In Spicy Garlic Sauce (May 15-June 11).
RUBY’S REDS: Ruby’s Diner offers two new menu items featuringstrawberries through May and June: a Strawberry Split, Ruby’sDiner’s twist on a banana split, and a Strawberry CheesecakeShake.
Honors and awards
Encinitas resident Bernard Guillas, executive chef of the MarineRoom in La Jolla, has been named 2004 Chef of the Year by ChefMagazine, based in Chicago.
Send information about local food products, food events orclasses to Food Editor, North County Times, 207 E. Pennsylvania,Escondido, CA 92025, fax to (760) 745-3769, or e-mail tofeatures@nctimes.com.
