Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 6, 2002

Special events and food tastings

THE ART OF WINE: 6:30 p.m. reception, dinner at 7 Fri., 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 as he shares his views on art and wine. Cost: $69, plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 254-5373 to reserve.

FUN AT THE FAIR: Besides the standard fair food and rides, fairgoers can check out the baking competition at the Florida State Fair, with 300 entries of pies, cakes, cookies and breads; 11 a.m. Fri.-Sat. at Charles M. Davis Special Events Center; and international wine competition of 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, Exit 4, 5, or 6A off I-4, Tampa. Call (813) 621-7821 or visit www.floridastatefair.com.

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, Piemonte, Veneto. A prelude to upcoming Bacchus in Black Tie VII. Cost: $35. Call (727) 712-2795 to RSVP (must reserve by Fri.).

VEGAN DINNER: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 17, Trang Viet Cuisine Restaurant, 1524 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Ninth annual "Have a Heart for Animals" dinner presented by the Florida Voices for Animals features vegan menu, live music, guest speaker: $18 in advance, $22 day of event. Call (813) 969-3755 to reserve.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

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" feature common characteristics -- same grape, region, vintner or style, with different flight each week. Cost varies according to selection, $10-$15. Call: (813) 269-8463.

Cooking classes

COMBINE VEGITARIAN AND VALENTINES: 7 p.m. Feb. 13 and 10 a.m. Feb. 14, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff shares quick, easy, low-fat vegan recipes. Free. Call (813) 873-7428. ROMANTIC DISHES: 6:15-7 p.m. Tues., Outdoor Kitchen Store, 3925 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Chef John Pivar of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort shows how to make romantic dishes: $30. Call (813) 875-3447.

Table talk

Does your group or business have special food or wine events of interest to people who like to eat, shop or cook in the Tampa Bay area? 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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