Recipe: Orange Romaine Salad

By Greg Dunne                                       

March 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) The winter months are the peak of the season for California grown Navel Oranges.  With the cold and flu season here, it’s a good time to pick up some navel oranges loaded with vitamin C.

Picking out navel oranges is an easy task.  Look for navels that are heavy in size relative to the other navels on the stand.  Usually a thin skin will indicate a juicy orange inside.  Lighter skin or slightly blemished on the outside does not necessarily mean a bad orange.  Most conventional oranges at the supermarket go through a color wash to make them a more vibrant orange.  Try to find organic oranges whenever possible.

February 19, 2015 (Alpine)--The Alpine-based nonprofit ARCHES is offering the cooking workshop Let’s Make Hearty Soups from 10:00 AM to 1 PM on Saturday February 28 at Alpine Ranch Chiropractic located at 450 Summerhill Court in Alpine. The workshop will be taught by Nancy Teas-Crain, RD.

Hear our interviews with representatives of San Diego County’s “Farm to School” program aired on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

February 7, 2015 (San Diego) – The second annual State of Farm to School in San Diego County Report reveals growth in farm to school programs bringing healthy produce to area school children – also generating returns for our region’s health and economy. See our earlier article on the program’s success here.   Recently we held a radio show on the County's Farm to School task force. We interviewed JuliAnna Arnett Director of Operations & Food Systems for the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, Community Health Improvement Partners, along with Eric Larson, Executive Director at the San Diego County Farm Bureau,Johnna Jenkins, Director of Child Nutrition at Valley Center-Pauma school district, and Jill Wittenberg, Child Nutrition Director, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.

They shared success stories on how this innovative program is helping farmers and students reap healthy rewards.  More participants are sought to meet rising demand for fresh produce in our public schools.

February 5, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Love is in the air at Bo-Beau's Restaurant in La Mesa, East County's only member of the esteemed Cohn Restaurants.  Chef Neil has put together a three-course menu with a shared dessert to showcase his cuisine on Valentine’s Day for $49.95 per person. 

Start with a teaser of escargot, heart beet bisque or red scarlett gem salad to whet your appetite. Then savor an entree, choosing from roasted chicken, steak, scallops, quinoa cakes or gnocchi alfredo. As a finale, share a mini ved velte torte complete with white chocolate mousse, raspberry sorbet and strawberry pearls.

February 6, 2015 (San Diego) – Andiamo Ristorante Italiano in Tierrasanta is featuring a special four-course prix fix menu on Valentine's Day, February 14th for $45. 

Call 858-277-3501 fpr details or visit www.andiamo-ristorante.com to make reservations.  Andiamo’s is located at 5950 Santo Road, San Diego.

January 27, 2015 (Alpine)--Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re invited to come celebrate the “perfect romantic evening” at Mediterraneo Bistro on Saturday February 14, 2015. Enjoy a Special Menu & extensive wine List on this lovely day.

Updated January 8, 2015 with more details from Haggen.

January 7, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Over two dozen Albertsons and Vons grocery stores in our region are being bought by Haggen Food & Pharmacy, a small grocery chain headquartered in Washington State and focused on healthy, natural and gourmet foods.

Listen online now: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

December 12, 2014 (Ramona) –Jess Koehler from La Finquita Winery and Teri Kerns from Ramona Ranch Winery stopped by our studio this week to talk about Ramona’s growing wine industry and a very merry event this weekend. The Ramona East End Loop Holiday Wine Trail (otherwise known as “Get Your Merry On” takes place this Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14. 

The self-guided tour features six wineries with 18 tastings, food pairings, live music, crafts such as glass blowing and holiday shopping. Plus each winery offers its own unique ambience, from the subterranean wine cave at La Finquita to an outdoor patio at Ramona Ranch.

November 8, 2014 (Ramona) – ‘Tis the season to be merry along the Holiday Wine Trail, featuring wineries on the Ramona East End Loop.   You can take the tour December 13 or 14 from 12-5 p.m.

November 22, 2014 (San Diego) – So — how long are you planning to thaw that turkey? (24 hours for every five pounds of weight.)

And what's the best way to cook the stuffing? (Separately, of course.)

Thanksgiving is the biggest home-cooking event of the year. You want everything to be perfect—and safe. The last thing anyone wants is uninvited bacteria, party-crashers like salmonella, listeria and E. coli that could make your guests sick.

Never fear--here are five steps from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to make this your best and safest Thanksgiving meal ever: Plan Ahead, Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

East County News Service

November 11, 2014 (Alpine)—The Alpine Beer Company has long been popular among East County beer lovers. This week, the company announced it has been acquired by Green Flash.

November 8, 2014 (Spring Valley) – Cali Comfort Restaurant will host the East County BBQ and Beer Tasting on November 14 from 6 to 9 p.m.  Cali is located at 8910 Troy Street in Spring Valley.  Guests will meet and greet brewers/owners of Jamul Brewing, Valley Farm Market and Cali Comfort BBQ.

October 31, 2014 (Ramona)-- The second annual Ramona Art and Wine Festivals iwll be held at the historic Amy Strong Castle on November 1st.

Part IV in a series

By the East County Eaters

Week 4:  Downtown Café (El Cajon) and Anthony’s Seafood Grotto (La Mesa)

October 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –In our fourth week of savoring great happy hours across our region, we stopped in at two establishments with deep roots in the community: Downtown Café, located in a historic brick that dates back to El  Cajon’s pioneer past, and Anthony’s Fish Grotto, a landmark restaurant serving up fresh seafood in La Mesa since 1946.