NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL: Fri.-Sun., Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Vintners and top chefs from around the world, including Thomas Keller of Napa Valley's French Laundry, wine auction, wine and food tastings; proceeds benefit children's charities. Call (941) 514-2239, or visit: www.napleswinterwinefestival.org.

THE ART OF WINE: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner at 7, Feb. 8, Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Andre Ostertag, sculptor, poet and owner-winemaker of Domaine Ostertag in France, pairs six of his recently released wines with culinary creations from chef Marty Blitz. Cost: $69, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 254-5373 to reserve.

FUN AT THE FAIR: Beside the standard fair food and rides, fairgoers can check out the baking competition at this year's Florida State Fair, with 300 entries of pies, cakes, cookies and breads; 11 a.m. Feb. 8 and 9, at Charles M. Davis Special Events Center; and they can visit the international wine competition, 500 entries from around the world judged on clarity, aroma, bouquet, balance and taste; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 7-8, 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 9 (best of show and Florida wines), at Florida Living Center; Florida State Fairgrounds, exits 4, 5 or 6A off I-4, Tampa. Call (813) 621-7821 or visit www.floridastatefair.com.

CULINARY CLUB MEETS AT GUPPY'S: Chef Scott Bebell of Guppy's on the Beach, 1701 Gulf Blvd., 1701 Gulf Blvd. on Indian Rocks Beach, prepares a jumbo lump blue crab taco tower with blackened tomato tortilla and black bean and sweet corn relish, 10 a.m. Feb. 9 at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club. Cost: $10. Open to the public. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

COOKBOOK TASTING LUNCHEON: 12:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Wegner Hall, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 301 58th St. S, St. Petersburg. Taste recipes taken from the Valparaiso University Guild Cookbook at annual luncheon; cookbooks available for purchase. Luncheon cost by donation, proceeds benefit Valparaiso University scholarships. Call (727) 822-2064 or (727) 867-8747 to reserve by Feb. 7.

BACCHUS PRELUDE: 4-6 p.m. Feb. 17, Gianniero's Specialties and Wines, 2506 S MacDill Ave., Tampa. Evening of desserts and dessert wines introduces guests to the tastes of five regions of Italy: Abruzzi, Campagna, Calabria, Piedmonte and Veneto, a prelude to upcoming Bacchus in Black Tie VII. Cost: $35. Call (727) 712-2795 to RSVP (must reserve by Feb. 8).

Wine and beer tastings, classes

WINES OF THE WORLD: Free tastings feature samplings from around the world and California, with chefs on hand preparing accompaniments to pair with wines: 4-7 p.m. Thur., Publix SuperMarket, Brooker Creek Plaza, 36301 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor: (727) 785-5521; and 4-7 p.m. Thur. and Fri., Publix Supermarket, Colonial Bardmoor Promenade, 10801 Starkey Road, Largo: (727) 397-4223.

FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHT: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway (Main Street Shopping Center), Tampa. Weekly wine "flights" features common characteristics -- same grape, region, vintner or style, with different flight each week. Cost varies according to selection: approximately $10-$15. Call (813) 269-8463.

PIC PAC WINES TASTING: 5-7 p.m. Fri., Pic Pac Fine Wine and Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. A varied selection of wines and a temperature-controlled wine room highlight this free weekly tasting: (727) 347-0743.

MURIELLE WINES: 1-4 p.m. Sat., Murielle Winery, 13131 56th Court, Suite 305, Clearwater. Tastings of Murielle's current releases. Free, but reservations required. Call (727) 561-0336, or visit www.muriellewinery.com.

MAZZARO'S TASTING: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Sample wines from California, Italy, France and Spain: (727) 321-2400.

Cooking classes

SPEEDY CASSEROLES: 7-8 p.m. today, 10-11 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Free cooking class with chef Debby DeGraaff makes quick vegetarian casseroles. Call (813) 873-7428.

COUPLES DINNER CLASS: 6:30-9 p.m. Fri., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class for couples makes elegant meal of lobster bisque, Tuscan stuffed chicken breasts with basil cream sauce, potatoes au gratin, raspberry creme brulee: $49.50 a person. Call (727) 736-3070.

ARMANI MENU CLASS: noon Sat., Armani's (atop Hyatt Regency Westshore), 6200 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa. Chef prepares favorites from the Armani menu: $60, inclusive. To reserve, call (813) 207-6800.

SAUCE WORKSHOP: 6:30 p.m. Mon., Mattison's, an American Bistro, 111 Second Ave. N (the Plaza Tower), downtown St. Petersburg. Learn to make an array of sauces in this cooking workshop with chef Paul Mattison: $35. Registration required, call (727) 895-2200.

CRABCAKES AT CAFE L'EUROPE: 11 a.m. Tue., Cafe L'Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Start with continental breakfast, then learn to make four-course dinner with wine pairing, lunch follows; menu this week includes crab cakes with citrus butter sauce, Madras glazed sea bass with apples, soft chocolate cakes with hazelnut ice cream: $60 a person inclusive (continental breakfast, lunch and glass of wine). Call (941) 388-4415 or visit www.neweuropeancuisine.com.

MASTERING THE BASICS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Feb. 20, A Passion for Food, 6837 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Sandra Morawski hosts cooking class series on mastering the basics of handling foods, designed for those new to cooking or who want to improve their kitchen skills: $30 per class. Call (727) 522-2882 to register, RSVP required.

CLASSIC ITALIAN CUISINE: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd., Sarasota. Guiliano Hazan, author of The Classic Pasta Cookbook, shares cooking tips as he prepares a full meal for sampling: $70, includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres break, printed recipes. Call (941) 924-1179 to reserve.

Contests

BEST CHEF COMPETITION: 7-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Francois Samson of Profusion in Tampa and Freddie Meyers of Blue Gardenia in Hyde Park square off. Spectators sample appetizers while the chefs prepare meal in 45 minutes or less, then vote for their favorite: $50 a person (includes meal). Portion of proceeds benefits breast cancer research. Call (727) 736-3070.

- Send news of coming events at least two weeks in advance of the publication date to Food File, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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