Main events
Whole Foods Market-Hillcrest presents a store tour, 10 to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at 711 University Ave. Free. Make reservations with the store's marketing department at (619) 294-2800. The bakery also will give out free samples from noon to 3 p.m. April 15.
Tea specialist Michael Figgins will conduct a discussion and sampling of teas, 11 a.m. April 15 at Caffe Calabria, 3933 30th St., North Park. Free. (619) 291-1759.
St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church holds its Easter bake sale, featuring baklava, poppy seed rolls, Easter pastries and hot cross buns, noon to 3 p.m. April 15 at 16903 Espola Road, Poway.
Peet's Coffee & Tea continues its 40th anniversary celebration with a free brewing workshop featuring its Major Dickason's Blend from 2 to 3 p.m. April 15 and 16 at all Peet's locations (Hillcrest, La Jolla and Torrey Highland). Also, Peet's will serve complimentary coffee and tea from 1 to 3 p.m. daily through April. For information, call the store nearest you.
The American Institute of Wine & Food, San Diego chapter, is offering a Mexican Riviera Cruise with chef John Cuevas of Laguna Beach's Montage Resort & Spa on the Holland America Oosterdam Oct. 14-21. Cooking classes, dinners and wine-pairing lunches in port cities are included. Information and pricing: Visit www.aiwf.org or call Karen Burnham at Cruises Inc. at (866) 224-4050.
Terra Restaurant offers three seatings for Easter Brunch, 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. April 16 at the restaurant, Vermont Street in the Uptown Shopping Center, Hillcrest. $32, $12 for children ages 5-12. Reservations: (619) 293-7088.
Top of the Cove presents a holiday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 16 at 1216 Prospect St., La Jolla. Cost is $32. Reservations: (858) 454-7779.
Jack's La Jolla celebrates Easter in the Grille from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in The Dining Room from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16 at 7863 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Cost for the brunch at the Grille is $55 per person. Cost of the brunch at The Dining Room is $85 per person. Reservations: (858) 456-8111.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort serves Easter Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16 in the Commodore Ballroom and Bayside Terrace, 4000 Coronado Bay Road. Cost is $54. Easter dinner will be served from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Azzura Point restaurant. Cost is $55 for three courses, $65 for four courses. Reservations: (619) 424-4000, ext. 6300.
The Shores Restaurant & Bar offers Easter brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16 at 8110 Camino del Oro, La Jolla. Cost is $39.50 for adults, $17.95 for children 6 to 12, $2 per year for children younger than 6. Reservations: (858) 456-0600.
Region Restaurant presents a three-course Easter brunch from noon to 8 p.m. April 16 at 3671 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Cost is $42 adults, $21 children. Reservations: (619) 299-6499.
Wine tastings
Loews Coronado Bay Resort's sommelier, Kurt Kirschenman, presents a tasting flight of California merlots with appetizers from 5:30 to 7 p.m. tomorrow, Azzura Point Lounge, 4000 Coronado Bay Road. $15. Reservations: (619) 424-4000.
The San Diego Wine & Culinary Center presents a tasting of wines from Castello Banfi as part of its live jazz, wine and cheese evening, 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow, 200 Harbor Drive, Suite 120. $7. (619) 231-6400 or www.sdwineculinary.com.Gaffney's Wine Bar presents tasting flights from small producers such as Chasseur, Carlson, Sineann and Olssens, 5 to 11 p.m. tomorrow through April 15 at 897 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Reservations: (760) 633-1011.
The Wine Loft presents a tasting flight of newly released cabernet sauvignons, 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and 5 to 10 p.m. April 14 and 15, at the store at The Forum, 1911 Calle Barcelona, Suite 151, Carlsbad. $30. (760) 944-1412.
Wine Street presents “Great Second Labels,” 5:30 to 8 p.m. April 14 at 6986 El Camino Real, Suite D, Carlsbad. Cost is $15, including appetizers. (760) 431-8455.
Vintage Wines Ltd. presents a tasting of “Money Saving Everyday Wines,” 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15 at 6904 Miramar Road. $5. A value wine tasting for $2 also is available. (858) 549-2112.
San Diego Wine Company presents a ZAP zinfandel tasting, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 15 at 5282 Eastgate Mall. $15. (858) 535-1400 or www.sandiegowine.net.The WineSellar & Brasserie presents “Top Values at Tax Time” at its weekly wine-tasting lunch, 11:30 a.m. April 15 at 9550 Waples St., Suite 115. $14 for the tasting; lunch is $9.50. Reservations: (858) 450-9557.
Barons Marketplace presents a tasting of the 2003 Paul Hobbs Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and other Paul Hobbs releases, 2 to 5 p.m. April 15 at the Del Mar store, 12875 El Camino Real. $10. (858) 481-2323.
Grape Connections presents a “Beat the Tax Blues Zinfandel” tasting, paired with appetizers, 3 to 4:30 p.m. April 15 at 1130 Scott St., Point Loma. $15. Reservations: (619) 523-6441.
The Wine Bank presents a pinot tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. April 15 at 363 Fifth Ave., Suite 100. Pricing and reservations: (619) 234-7487.
Parallel 33/Blue Lotus presents a tasting of German riesling, 5:30 to 8 p.m. April 17 at 741 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Cost is $25. Reservations: (619) 260-0033.
Wine Encounter presents “Wine Tasting 101,” a class and wine sampling, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 18 at 690 University Ave., Hillcrest. $39.99 per person or $59.99 per couple. There is a $10 materials fee. Reservations: (619) 543-9463.
Wine Steals hosts tastings of more than 25 wines, 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 1243 University Ave., Hillcrest. Cost is $10. Half-price wine flights of whatever is open at the bar are offered beginning at 2 p.m. Sundays. (619) 295-1188.
Sonoma Valley Market hosts wine tastings: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Suite 300, Carlsbad. Cost is $5 to $10 per flight. (760) 720-7700.
Cooking classes
“Easter Dinner for Family and Friends,” offered by Healthy Gourmet Cooking School, meets from 9 to 11 a.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow in La Costa. $45. Reservations: Cindy Holt, (760) 942-9053.
“Chinese and Asian Cooking” with Lucile Cheng, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, April 17-June 5 at Foothills Adult School, Room 10, 1550 Melody Lane, El Cajon. Cost is $30. Information: (619) 282-9934.
Amy Malone School of Cake Decorating, 4212 Camino Alegre, La Mesa, offers a variety of classes:
“Austrian Peach Cookies” with Amy Malone, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22. Cost is $40, with a $20 deposit due April 18.
“Quick Appetizers” with Lenice Lopez, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6. $40, with a $20 deposit due May 2.
Reservations: (619) 660-1900.
Do It With Icing, 7240 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., offers classes: “Easter Candy Workshop” with Linda Bills, 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 14. $25.
“Sweet Bouquets for Gift Giving,” a workshop with Lisa Yale, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 15. $30.
“Working With Wedding Flowers” with Erin McKay, 2 to 5 p.m. April 15. $50. Reservations: (858) 268-1234.
Great News! Cooking School, 1788 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, offers:
“Seafood From Down Under” with Katherine Emmenegger, 6 p.m. April 14. $59.
“Basic Knife Skills” with Emmenegger, 10:30 a.m. April 15. $44.
“Venissimo Cheese and Wine Pairing: Tour of the West” with Gina Freize, owner of Venissimo Cheese, 6 p.m. April 17. $59.
“Cooking Under Wraps” with Phillis Carey, 10:30 a.m. April 18. $44.
“A Brunch to Brag About” with Mary Ann Vitale, owner and executive chef of La Taverna Restaurant, 6 p.m. April 18. $44.
“Mediterranean Dinner” with Sean Kilpatrick, 6 p.m. April 19. $49.
“99 Ranch Market Tour and Dim Sum Lunch” with Allison Sherwood, 9 a.m. April 20. $49.
“Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut” with Carey, 6 p.m. April 20. $49.
Reservations: (858) 270-1582, ext. 3, or www.great-news.com.The Kitchen Witch Gourmet Shop, 127 N. El Camino Real, Suite D, Encinitas, offers classes:
“Springtime Flavors With Pacifica Del Mar” with chef Brad Luckinbill, 6 p.m. April 17. $55.
“Cooking With Citrus” with Phillis Carey, 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. April 19. $55.
Reservations: (760) 942-3228.
Macy's School of Cooking in Macy's Mission Valley Home Store, 1555 Camino de la Reina, offers “A Taste of Mexico” with Rigo Gutierrez of Zocalo Grill, noon to 1:30 p.m. April 15. $10. Reservations: (619) 299-9811, ext. 4231.
Sur La Table at The Forum at Carlsbad, 1915 Calle Barcelona, offers a variety of classes:
“Easter for Kids,” a hands-on class with staff for ages 6-11, 10:30 a.m. April 15. $45.
“Pan-fry, Pan-roast” with Joey Nerenberg of Infusion Culinary, 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 17. Free.
“Tuscan Dinner Party,” a hands-on class with Sean Kilpatrick, 6:30 p.m. April 18. $65.
“Classic Cakes” with Cindy Mushet, 6:30 p.m. April 20. $65.
Reservations: (760) 635-1316 or www.surlatable.com.Voila!, 12873 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley, offers “Cooking With Herbs” with Dee Biller, 6 p.m. April 18. $55. Reservations: (858) 523-9446.
Williams-Sonoma, Fashion Valley, offers a variety of classes:
“Chicken and Wine: 30 Minute Entrees” with Nadia Frigeri, 6 p.m. April 17 or April 18. $50.
“Breakfast Anytime” with Deborah Shubert, 6 p.m. April 19. $50.
Reservations: (619) 295-0510.
Compiled by Caroline Dipping.Send information about food or wine events to: Food Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191.
