Food File

By PEGGY ANDERS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 1, 2002

Special events and food tastings

TAMPA BAY CULINARY CLUB: 1 p.m. Sat., Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, 105 N Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Sample spa cuisine, with a signature dish from the menu prepared by chef Tom Huling, at this month's meeting of the Tampa Bay Culinary Club. Cost: $10. Call Jeanne at (727) 789-2605 to RSVP (required).

ICING ON THE WEDDING CAKE: 1-4 p.m. Sun., Florida Botanical Gardens, 12175 125th St. N, Largo. Planning a wedding? Soon-to-be brides and grooms can get help from the experts in planning receptions and food choices, along with everything else needed to make the day special; $5. Call (727) 582-2200

WINE AND WISHES: 6-9 p.m. Tue., Polo Club Bistro, 2516 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Try tastes from chef Robert Masson's menu, paired with wines and beers, and help grant a special wish to a child at this Make A Wish Foundation benefit: $20 per person. Call (727) 791-7979 to reserve.

BUD PARTY SAFARI: Beat the summer heat with fresh-brewed beers and tastes of Bud Gator Chili and Michelob Seafood Quiche every weekend in May at Busch Gardens' Bud Party Safari (included in park admission); "Ready, Set, Chef" cooking competitions with local chefs; food-tasting stations; special kid's station; nominal charge for food and beer samples. Visit www.buschgardens.com or call toll-free 1-888-800-5447 for more information.

Wine and beer tastings, classes

WOMEN WINEMAKERS: 6:30 p.m. Fri., Uncorked Fine Wines and Accessories, 2706 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. In honor of Mother's Day, this monthlong tribute to female winemakers begins with sampling of wines from CR Angove's Australian winery, along with other Australian wines: $10, includes souvenir glass. Call (727) 892-9463.

WORLD WINGS WINE TASTING: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Tampa Bay Chapter of Pan Am World Wings International's wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres tasting benefits the Centre for Women; $15 donation. To reserve, call Camille, (813) 681-9217, or Mary Ellen, (727) 867-3108.

SEGHESIO SAMPLING: 6 p.m. Fri., the Grapevine at Westchase, 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. (east of Racetrack Road), Tampa. Featured wine is 1998 Seghesio Omaggio, a blend of sangiovese, barbera, cabernet and merlot that retails for about $44 per bottle; $4 tasting. Call (813) 818-9463 to reserve.

HOMEBREW AND HORSES: Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, hosts National Homebrew Day beer celebration, 11 a.m. Sat., with homebrew demonstrations and samples, tours of the brewery; stay for the Kentucky Derby party at 4 p.m. Derby Hat and other contest winners receive beer-related prizes. Call (727) 736-0606

WET YOUR WHISTLE: 6-8 p.m. Sat., Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St., Safety Harbor. Try the new wines at the Whistle Stop with free food samplings or dinner specials purchased, such as pecan catfish, barbecued salmon or portobello wrap, plus live jazz; $6. Call (727) 726-1956

ALEJANDRO'S LATEST: 7 p.m. Mon., Columbia Restaurant, 2217 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. Renowned winemaker Alejandro Fernandez of the Pesquera Winery in Spain introduces two of his newest creations: Dehesa La Granja, red wine aged 25 months in oak barrels, and El Vinculo, a red made from old-vine vineyards of Tempranillo, along with other wines from his vineyards, paired with tapas from chef Paco Duarte; $25, includes tax and gratuity. RSVP required, call (813) 248-4961.

LUSCIOUS LOIRE WINES: 6 p.m. May 8, J.D. Ford Fine Wines, 1925 S Osprey Ave. (Fruitville Road exit off I-75, west to U.S. 41, south to Hillview St., make right to Osprey Avenue), Sarasota. Tasting room takes participants on tour of Loire region, from Nantes to Vouvray, Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre; $20. Call: (941) 362-9463.

CALIFORNIA WINES: 7 p.m. May 9, Columbia Restaurant, 800 Second Ave. NE, at the Pier, downtown St. Petersburg. California wines paired with tapas prepared by chef David Miller; $25, includes tax and gratuity. RSVP required, call (727) 822-8000.

Cooking classes

VEGETABLE PROTEIN: 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. Thur., Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Chef Debby DeGraaff uses TVP, or texturized vegetable protein, in vegetarian dishes; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

SOUTHWEST SPECIALTIES: 6:30-9 p.m. Thur., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Hands-on class makes margarita salmon with basil, tomato corn muffins, Monterey jack stuffed steaks; $39.50. Call (727) 736-3070.

NOUVEAU FLORIDA GRILL: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. Florida fusion dishes include black bean salad with mango and shrimp, grilled swordfish with fried garlic sauce, banana salsa, citrus marinated hearts of palm salad, margarita sorbet; $35. Call (727) 736-3070.

CREATIVE CAULIFLOWER: 7 p.m. May 8, 10 a.m. May 9, Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Vegetarian dishes made with cauliflower; free. Call (813) 873-7428.

Worth sending for

THE BEET GOES ON: Receive a free copy of Contemporary Classics brochure with updated beet recipes and quick serving suggestions such as pickled beet bruschetta; salmon, raspberry beet and mesclun salad; and roasted veggies and beets. Send self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to: Seneca Fulfillment, Attn.: ANFK Marketing, 3732 South Main St., Marion NY 14505.

- 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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