Dishing It Out Archive

Forget about the Atkins diet for a darn minute. The new edition of “Healthy Dining San Diego” by Anita Jones has just hit the market. This 200-page book offers hundreds of healthful menu choices at more than 90 participating San Diego restaurants. Nutritional information for each dish, including fat, calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, fiber and diabetic exchange is listed to help readers make healthy dining decisions. For instance, would you have guessed that the “Zuppa Di Pesce” at Tutto Mare has only 660 calories and 22 grams of fat (the “good” kind). It also has 77 grams of protein and only 18 grams of carbs — not bad if you can just stay away from the bread. Inspired by the healthy dining book, participating restaurants offer five entrées on their menus that meet guidelines recommended by leading health organizations, such as the U.S. Surgeon General, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. These restaurants, the menu items and their breakdowns are included in the book. “Healthy Dining in San Diego” also has coupons for participating restaurants and recipes for healthy dishes from 55 top local chefs. Copies are on sale for $19.95 at Henry’s, Jimbo’s, Whole Foods and Jamba Juice, among other locations.

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Join Arterra Restaurant and Bar’s wine director, Dan Chapman, Jan. 15-17 to tour his favorite wineries in the Guadalupe Valley, Baja California. After a day of wine tasting and learning wine-growing techniques, guests will return to Arterra, located at the Del Mar Marriott, for a four-course dinner prepared by award-winning chef de cuisine Carl Schroeder. Each course will be paired with wines from the Guadalupe Valley. The Arterra Wine of the Earth package includes two nights’ accommodations, the wine tour, transportation, lunch at the winery with selected wines and dinners for two at Arterra. Package rate is $635 per couple based on double occupancy. Call 1-800-228-9290 and mention rate code “LLRJ” for reservations, or call Arterra Restaurant for information at (858) 369-6032.

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Make your reservations early for the Hess Collection wine dinner at Pacifica Del Mar on Nov. 12. A reception with the winemaker will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Executive Chef Chris Idso will prepare an expansive five-course menu to match the winemaker’s selections. The winemaker will be announced at a later date. Cost of the event is $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. For menu information and reservations, call Pacifica Del Mar at (858) 792-0476.

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Dine like the Romanovs. At 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 The Westgate Hotel will offer an evening of opulence and splendor with a caviar, vodka and champagne dinner. Diners will taste some of the best caviars from the Caspian Sea along with ice-cold flavored vodkas and some of the world’s best champagnes. The cost is $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call (619) 557-3655 for reservations.

Terryl Gavre believes the world would be a better place if everyone worked once as a foodserver. She is owner of Café 222, Downtown, and can be reached at (619) 233-4060, Ext. 316, or food@san.rr.com.