Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 13, 2002

Special events and food tastings

SPRING FOOD FESTIVAL: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Celebrate spring and find healthy new family favorites at food festival with samplings, wine tastings: (813) 873-7428.

ABILITIES EVENTS: Abilities Foundation Winemaker Dinner 7 p.m. today at Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way on Clearwater Beach: $125, call (727) 461-6617 to reserve, as preview to the 13th annual Abilities Grand Wine Tasting and Auction 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sat. at Tropicana Field, First Avenue and 16th Street S, St. Petersburg. Tickets: $60, $70 at door; proceeds benefit the Abilities Foundation. Call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345.

IRISH BREAD SAMPLING: 1-2:30 p.m. Fri., Bread Artisans Bakery, 4442 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Irish soda bread tasting: (727) 548-1400.

GREAT CHEFS: 6-9 p.m. Sat., 1455 Oceanview Drive, Tierra Verde, St. Petersburg. Fourth annual Great Chefs of Tampa Bay event. Tickets: $125, proceeds benefit Family Resources. Call (727) 550-4011.

VIVA CHOCOLATE: 6-9 p.m. dinner, 9-midnight desserts, drinks and entertainment, March 21, Viva la Frida Cafe, 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Four-course all-chocolate dinner, followed by dessert, Mexican chocolate drinks. Call (813) 231-9199.

GRAPEVINE WINE FESTIVAL: 6-9 p.m. March 23, Clubhouse at Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay, 12951 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. Children's Home benefit; $25, $45 for two people; $30 per person day of event. Call (813) 818-9463.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

GREEN WITH ENVY: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Sample green-bottled wines, including Cline 1999 Ancient Vines zinfandel and Fess Parker Johannisberg Riesling, plus six ales including Flying Dog Pale Ale, Delirium Tremens Belgian ale: $10. (813) 879-2931.

MIDNIGHT TASTING AND WINE FLAVORS: J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota. After-hours tasting from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mon. of boutique wines from New Zealand, free; while "Flavor of Wine" tasting 6 p.m. March 20 explores flavor profiles and characteristics of grape varietals, blind tasting techniques, more, $20. Call: (941) 362-9463.

PINOT NOIRS AT GRAPEVINE: 6-8 p.m. Fri., Westchase Golf Club, 11602 Westchase Golf Drive, Tampa. Lessons in tasting and evaluating pinot noir: $10. Call: (813) 818-9463.

MAZZARO'S TASTING: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Free tasting: (727) 321-2400.

AMERICAN PINOT NOIRS: 6:30 p.m. Mon., SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Sample examples of pinot noir wines from different areas in California and Oregon; $25. Limited seating, call (813) 250-9463 to reserve.

Cooking classes

PASSION FOR FOOD: A Passion for Food, 6837 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, offers classes on elegant entertaining, 6:30-8 p.m. today and March 27, $30 per class; budget gourmet dishes for family meals, 6:30-8 p.m. Tues., $25. Call (727) 522-2882 to register, RSVP required.

DO AHEAD PARTY MEALS: noon-2 p.m. Thur., Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Daytime class shows how to plan a do-ahead Easter or spring party meal; $35. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

CALIFORNIA CUISINE: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. California cuisine is topic at this week's free vegetarian class. Call (813) 873-7428.

MEDITERRANEAN MAGIC: 11:30 a.m. March 20, Chelsea Center at Thomas Moore Church, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota. Chef Paul Mattison cooks: $35. Registration required, call (941) 923-8533.

JAPANESE NOODLES: 7 p.m. March 20, 10 a.m. March 21, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Learn how to use Japanese noodles in vegetarian dishes with chef Debby DeGraaff; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SUSHI AND ASIAN CUISINE: 6:30-9 p.m. March 20, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Teriyaki, plus an assortment of sushi in handson class; $45. Call (727) 736-3070.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA: 10 a.m.-noon March 23, Margaret Ann's Catering, 5625 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Learn about eggs in this class that shows how to boil, devil, fry and decorate them; $25. Call (727) 525-3983 to reserve.

- 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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