Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 20, 2002

Special events and food tastings

CHALK HILL DINNER: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Roy's Tampa, 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. Four Hawaiian fusion courses paired with Chalk Hill wines; $95 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required. Call (813) 873-7697.

LAKERIDGE WINEFEST: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lakeridge Winery, 19239 U.S. 27 N (three miles south of Florida Turnpike exit 285), Clermont. Winery tours, tastings, special release wines highlight 11th annual winefest, with live music, artist displays, food, other beverages available for purchase. Donation: $2. Call toll-free 1-800-768-9463, (352) 394-8627.

NOT YOUR BASIC BREAD: 12:30-2 p.m. Sat., the Bread Artisans Bakery, 4442 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Sample a selection of regional Italian appetizers featuring rosmarino, campagna, saraceno, corona and filoncino breads at this free tasting: (727) 548-1400.

VEGAN DINNER: 7 p.m. Tue., Bay-Route Lebanese Restaurant, 1849 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Clearwater. The Tampa Bay Vegetarians invite you to try hummus, baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, tabouleh and spinach pie and enjoy after-dinner talk with John Mandujano. Call Chris at (727) 898-9035 to RSVP by Thur..

DINNER WITH RANDALL GRAHAM: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28, the Silver Cricket, 1923 Ringling Blvd., downtown Sarasota. Six-course Bonny Doon wine dinner features winemaker Randall Graham pairing six varieties with menu of panko-breaded and fried cold-smoked oysters with corn relish; cassoulet of lotus seeds with grilled quail; plus wild boar, duck and chocolate tart with caramel ice cream: $100, inclusive. Call (941) 955-9179 to reserve.

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL: Feb. 28-March 3, Michael's on East, 1212 East Ave., Sarasota. Three days of chocolate-filled fun and food feature the creations of New York chocolatiers and pastry chefs Andrew Shotts and Patrick Coston; chocolate winemaker dinner Feb. 28 incorporates chocolate or cocoa into each of five courses; "Cooking with Chocolate" seminar March 1; Chocolate Sundae March 3 showcases desserts of area restaurants such as Mise en Place, Zoria, Kilwin's Chocolates, Euphemia Haye. Event prices $35-$125, proceeds benefit United Cerebral Palsy. Call (941) 957-3599 for more information or to reserve.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

GREAT SCOTCH: 7 p.m. Thur., the Chase Club and Grapevine, Westchase Square, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Sample Scotches from around the world, plus a variety of smooth cigars: $10. Call (813) 818-9463 to reserve.

MERLOT AND MONET: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thur., Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Wine Brats taste Italian wines and hors d'oeuvres and stroll among the museum's exhibits: $20 advance, $25 cash at door. Visit tampa.winebrats.org to reserve.

GOLD MEDAL REDS: 7 p.m. aperitif, 7:30 tasting Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Red wines that rate high marks (90 or better) star in this tasting: Rex Hill pinot noir, Yalumba "Signature" cabernet/shiraz, Chateau Plince Pomeol among winners: $20. Call (813) 879-2931.

FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHT: 7-9 p.m. Fri. (weekly), Grand Cru Wine Cellar, 11724 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Weekly wine "flight"; cost varies according to selection, approx. $10-$15. Call: (813) 269-8463.

Cooking classes

EATING HEALTHY: 7-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Licensed nutritionist shows how to create healthful menu with taste: coconut crusted shrimp; cream of tomato dill soup; chicken with prosciutto, mozzarella and roasted red peppers; spinach risotto and asiago cheese-stuffed portobello: $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

DINNER PARTY CLASS: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. This month's dinner party class makes butternut squash and apple soup with goat cheese; rosemary dijon rack of pork; orzo with roasted vegetables; apple crostada with cinnamon ice cream: $40 per person, $75 per couple. Call (727) 525-3983.

FAST AND HEALTHY: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., A Passion for Food, 6837 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Tired of fast food? Sandra Morawski shows how to make gourmet meals at home with a minimum of preparation: $25. Call (727) 522-2882; RSVP required.

ELEGANT DESSERTS: 6:30-9 p.m. Tue., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Elegant, simple desserts: Pavlova meringue shells with fruit and orange cream; pecan tuilles with espresso chocolate ganache; raspberry creme brulee; cabernet poached pears with cinnamon ricotta cream: $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

Table talk

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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